National Economic Council director Kevin Hassett said in an interview with ABC News' "This Week" that the tariffs are not meant to start a trade war. "What happened was that we launched a drug war, not a trade war, and it was part of the negotiation to get Canada and Mexico to stop shipping fentanyl across our borders," Hassett said.

Long-threatened tariffs from U.S. President Donald Trump have plunged the country into a trade war abroad — all while on-again, off-again new levies continue to escalate uncertainty

Donald Trump once again acknowledged that his foolish trade wars will disrupt the economy, potentially causing a recession. But the president still spoke about the impending tariffs on Mexico and Canada as if they are paid by the exporting country rather than the American companies importing goods,