Messaging Guidance:

Communicating the Impact of Trump’s Tariffs

 

Background:

At the end of January, the Trump Administration announced plans to implement 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada as well as a 10% duty on China beginning as soon as this week. While the administration quickly reversed course and temporarily delayed its tariffs on America’s neighbors, this story is far from over… 

These proposed tariffs would have wide-ranging impacts on international trade, alliances with our closest neighbors, and much more. But in responding to announcements like this, both today and in the future, it is critical that our community focuses on the direct impact these actions will have on American businesses and consumers. 

The American people need to understand the consequences of Trump’s actions and the impact tariffs will have on their wallets – which directly contradict what he promised on the campaign trail. This is especially true as it relates to Canada and Mexico, our closest neighbors and top trading partners. 

Donald Trump was elected president in large part because he promised to bring down the cost of groceries and gasoline “on day one.” Not only has he failed in that promise – he’s now proposing actions that will dramatically increase costs on hardworking Americans all around the country.

Talking Points:

  • Donald Trump ran for president on a promise to lower prices for American families. Today, he’s breaking that promise by threatening tariffs that will “increase inflation, slow economic growth, hurt U.S. workers, and result in American consumers footing the bill for his tariffs.” 

  • Trump’s plan to implement tariffs against Canada and Mexico was truly unprecedented in recent history. The proposed 25% tariffs would be far more extensive than previous tariffs on imports from China. And the impact on American families would be far more significant.

  • Tariffs on Canada and Mexico alone would increase taxes by hundreds of billions of dollars, effectively taxing the average U.S. household $800 in 2025 alone. The burden of these additional costs wouldn’t be felt by Trump and his fellow billionaires running the show in Washington – but rather by ordinary, working class families across the country. 

  • More than 4.5 million jobs in the United States are reliant on imports from Canada and Mexico, which are worth over $900 billion annually. Businesses around the country rely on importing affordable goods from our neighbors – all of which would be subject to a 25% tariff. These increased costs would likely result in American companies scaling back, laying off workers to cut costs, or shutting their doors entirely.

  • And, despite Trump’s lies, it’s not true that those additional costs would be paid by our neighbors to the north and south. “It is Americans who will directly pay for it. There’s no doubt about that.” 

  • So how would Trump’s tariffs impact American families? Unfortunately, the cost of household goods and everyday items would likely skyrocket.

    • Groceries: Mexico supplies 63 percent of the U.S. vegetable imports and 47 percent of the fruit and nut imports. When the tariffs go into effect, “tomatoes, avocados, cucumbers, jalapenos, limes, mangos, and other typical produce imports from Mexico will increase in price.” 

    • Energy: “Canada is also the top supplier of crude oil to the US, making up 60% of total oil imports, according to the US Energy Information Administration.” All of that oil could be subject to Trump’s tariffs – the cost of which would be passed on to the American consumer by way of increased gas and energy costs. 

    • Automobiles: “A 25% duty on a $25,000 vehicle from Canada or Mexico would add $6,250 to its cost — some if not most of which could be passed on to the consumer.” Tariffs “could add $10,000 or more to trucks and other larger vehicles that are shipped into the United States from Canada and Mexico. ‘Much of that, at least in the short term, is going to get absorbed by customers and auto dealers…’”

    • Beer and Liquor: Modelo, America's bestselling beer, is made in Mexico, along with Corona and Pacifico. The U.S. also imports millions of bottles of tequila and mezcal. All of these would be privy to the 25 percent tariff.

  • Unfortunately, the impact of Trump’s chaos won’t be limited to American consumers. Small businesses and major industries all across the country depend on consumers in Canada and Mexico. According to US government data, 17% of U.S. exports go to Canada – all of which could be subject to retaliatory tariffs. 

  • Shortly after Trump’s announcement, Canada pledged to levy more than $100 billion in retaliatory tariffs on the United States, which would harm both small businesses and major corporations in the U.S. – threatening even further economic damage and job losses. With those, threats hanging over their heads, it’s very likely that many American businesses that depend on business overseas would be forced to shut their doors due to Trump’s reckless behavior.

Published: February 2025