Trump pledged to fix U.S. trade deficit with Mexico

US President Donald Trump on Sunday, February 9, stressed the importance of imposing duties as a tool to protect the country's economic interests.

"I'm not going to let us have a $350 billion deficit with Mexico. Duties is a beautiful word," Trump said in an interview with FOX54 Huntsville on YouTube.

Trump said the use of tariffs allows him to pressure U.S. partners to reach terms favorable to Washington.

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Mexico and Canada have also been victims of Trump's repressive policies in the region

Earlier on Feb. 4, White House National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett said Trump's tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China are aimed at fighting fentanyl, not starting a trade war. He said Canada misunderstood the language in Trump's executive order, interpreting it as starting a trade war.

On Feb. 1, Trump signed an executive order imposing trade tariffs of 25 percent on goods from Canada, China and Mexico. Then he also promised to impose duties on goods from the EU. With this decision, Trump seeks to reduce the flow of the opioid fentanyl across the border, as well as the flow of migrants.