President Donald Trump's nominee to run the Commerce Department, Howard Lutnick, said on Wednesday that Canada and Mexico can avoid looming U.S. tariffs if they act swiftly to close their borders to fentanyl,

President Donald Trump's pick to lead the Commerce Department has told US lawmakers that Canada and Mexico can avoid blanket tariffs if they close their borders to fentanyl. "As far as I know, they are acting swiftly, and if they execute it, there will be no tariff," Howard Lutnick said on Wednesday during a confirmation hearing before senators.

He noted those tariffs were separate from a broad effort by the Commerce Department, the U.S. Trade Representative’s office and the Treasury Department to review trade relations and tariffs by April 1.