Trump tariffs raise gas prices across U.S.

President Donald Trump's announcement of new tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico, and China has set the stage for rising U.S. gasoline and heating oil prices, particularly affecting the Northeast and states like Maine. The tariffs impose a 25% tax on Mexican imports, a 10% levy on Canadian energy, and increased duties on Chinese goods, leading to higher wholesale fuel costs and expected price hikes at the pump by 20 to 40 cents per gallon. In Maine, where 80% of heating fuel is imported from Canada, costs are expected to rise, adding financial pressure on households reliant on heating oil. While some Republican lawmakers support the tariffs as a necessary trade-off for economic reform, critics argue they could exacerbate inflation and increase consumer costs across various sectors, including agriculture. The tariffs are intended to pressure neighboring countries on issues like fentanyl trafficking, but they could lead to retaliatory measures, as indicated by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's plans for counter-tariffs. Public opinion on the tariffs is divided, with a significant portion of Americans opposing the new taxes on imported goods.