Trump Mulling Economic Emergency To Impose Tariffs

The move would allow President-elect to implement broad tariffs after threatening Panama, Greenland and Canada.

Donald Trump is mulling over the idea to declare a national economic emergency to impose widespread tariffs, CNN reports, as the president-elect escalates threats to seize the Panama Canal, acquire Greenland and force Canada into becoming a US state.

The emergency powers move would allow Trump to implement broad tariff measures against both allies and adversaries through the International Economic Emergency Powers Act, according to four sources familiar with the discussions.

The emergency powers would give Trump significant latitude in constructing a new tariff programme without having to demonstrate traditional national security justifications, the sources told CNN. "Nothing is off the table," one source familiar with the matter told the network, confirming that robust discussions about declaring a national emergency have taken place.

The exploratory consideration comes amid mounting international backlash after Trump refused to rule out using military or economic coercion regarding Panama and Greenland during a rambling press conference at Mar-a-Lago on Tuesday.