White House: Canada Has 'Misunderstood' Tariff Order as Trade War, Mexico is 'Serious'

The flags of Mexico, the United States and Canada fly in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico February 1, 2025. REUTERS/Jose Luis Gonzalez/File Photo
The flags of Mexico, the United States and Canada fly in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico February 1, 2025. REUTERS/Jose Luis Gonzalez/File Photo
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White House: Canada Has 'Misunderstood' Tariff Order as Trade War, Mexico is 'Serious'

The flags of Mexico, the United States and Canada fly in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico February 1, 2025. REUTERS/Jose Luis Gonzalez/File Photo
The flags of Mexico, the United States and Canada fly in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico February 1, 2025. REUTERS/Jose Luis Gonzalez/File Photo

The White House said on Monday it has noticed that Mexico is "serious" about President Donald Trump's executive order on tariffs, but Canada has "misunderstood" it to be a trade war between the neighboring countries.

Trump on Saturday ordered sweeping tariffs on goods from Mexico, Canada and China, demanding they stanch the flow of fentanyl and illegal immigrants into the US, kicking off a trade war that could dent global growth and stoke inflation. "The good news is that in our conversations over the weekend, one of the things we've noticed is that Mexicans are very, very serious about doing what President Trump said," Kevin Hassett, the director of the White House's National Economic Council, said on CNBC, Reuters reported.

"Canadians appear to have misunderstood the plain language of the executive order and they're interpreting it as a trade war," Hassett added. When asked what Canada and Mexico must do to lift the 25% tariffs that Trump announced on Saturday, the president told reporters on Sunday they "have to balance out their trade, number one.They've got to stop people from pouring into our country ... they have to stop people pouring in, and we have to stop fentanyl. And that includes China," said Trump, who announced an additional 10% tariff on Chinese goods.

The president also said the tariffs against the three largest US trading partners, which take effect on Tuesday, might cause Americans some short-term pain, but "long term, the United States has been ripped off by virtually every country in the world."

Trump also indicated on Sunday that the 27-nation European Union would be next in the firing line, but he did not say when.

Hassett, when asked if Trump's policies will create more inflation, said one needs to look at all of the president's policies together. "I think this is going to be one of the biggest supply-side positive shocks that we've ever seen," he said.

The NEC director also said Trump will ultimately decide "what he's going to call off and what he's not" in terms of tariffs.



Fire at North Macedonia Nightclub Kills 59, Injures over 150

Rescue crews gather outside a night club, following a fire resulting in casualties, in the town of Kocani, North Macedonia, March 16, 2025. (Reuters)
Rescue crews gather outside a night club, following a fire resulting in casualties, in the town of Kocani, North Macedonia, March 16, 2025. (Reuters)
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Fire at North Macedonia Nightclub Kills 59, Injures over 150

Rescue crews gather outside a night club, following a fire resulting in casualties, in the town of Kocani, North Macedonia, March 16, 2025. (Reuters)
Rescue crews gather outside a night club, following a fire resulting in casualties, in the town of Kocani, North Macedonia, March 16, 2025. (Reuters)

Fire ripped through a packed nightclub early on Sunday in the North Macedonian town of Kocani, killing 59 people and injuring more than 150, officials said, after sparks ignited the roof above a live band.

Authorities arrested about 20 people in connection with the fire, including government officials and the manager of the "Pulse" nightclub, which did not have a legitimate license, Interior Minister Pance Toskovski told a press conference.

"We have a reason to suspect graft and corruption were involved in this case," he said, without providing details.

One video from the event, verified by Reuters, showed a band playing on stage flanked by two flares whose white sparks set a patch of ceiling alight. The fire spread fast and caused a panicked rush to the exits.

"Fire broke out, everyone started screaming and shouting: 'Get out, get out'," Marija Taseva, 22, told Reuters.

As she tried to escape, Taseva fell to the ground and people trod on her, injuring her face. In the rush, she lost contact with her sister, who did not make it out.

"My sister died," Taseva said, breaking into tears.

Toskovski confirmed that the fire, which began at around 3 a.m. (0200 GMT), was caused by "pyrotechnic devices" whose sparks triggered the blaze. He said 500 people were in the club when the fire started.

About 148 people were hospitalized in Skopje, Kocani and surrounding towns, Health Minister Arben Taravari said, adding that 20 people were critically injured.

Condolences flooded in from global leaders, including EU commission president Ursula von der Leyen and Pope Francis.

People searched for missing loved ones online and at hospitals across the country.

Simeon Sokolov, 50, found his daughter Anastasija at the emergency ward of the September 8 hospital in the capital Skopje, where she was being treated for burns and smoke inhalation.

"I just know that there are many children who have suffered," he told Reuters. "Doctors are doing their job and the number is big."

Some patients were transferred to neighboring Bulgaria, Serbia and Greece for treatment, authorities from those countries said.

INVESTIGATION

North Macedonia's Public Prosecutor Ljupco Kocevski said five prosecutors would investigate the incident.

"At the moment, orders have been issued for collecting of evidence" and some people were being interviewed, Kocevski said, without elaborating.

Toskovski said authorities had arrested members of the band, the son of the club owner and government officials.

Firefighters doused the charred and smoking entrance of the nightclub before dawn as ambulances rushed from the scene, TV footage from a local broadcaster showed.

Reuters pictures showed the club's corrugated iron roof burned through and collapsed in places, its interior wooden beams exposed and blackened.

North Macedonia Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski said on Facebook: "This is a difficult and very sad day for Macedonia! The loss of so many young lives is irreparable, the pain of the families, loved ones and friends is immeasurable."

After visiting the injured in a hospital in Skopje, North Macedonia's President Gordana Siljanovska Davkova, dressed in black and fighting tears, said authorities were ready to do everything to help all affected.

"I simply cannot comprehend this ... what a disaster, what a tragedy."