Documents › Executive orders › 14198
Executive Order 14198
Progress on the Situation at Our Southern Border
Signed February 3, 2025, printed at 90 FR 9185. 3 sections of substance, 776 words.
This order pauses the new tax on Mexican goods. It says Mexico has begun to act on the border.
Sec. 1. Background
On February 1, 2025, I determined that the failure of Mexico to arrest, seize, detain, or otherwise intercept Mexican drug trafficking organizations, other drug and human traffickers, criminals at large, and illicit drugs constitutes an unusual and extraordinary threat, which has its source in substantial part outside the United States, to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States. To address that threat, I invoked my authority under section 1702(a)(1)(B) of IEEPA to impose ad valorem tariffs on articles that are products of Mexico.
On February 1, 2025, I determined that the failure of Mexico to arrest, seize, detain, or otherwise intercept Mexican drug trafficking organizations, other drug and human traffickers, criminals at large, and illicit drugs constitutes an unusual and extraordinary threat, which has its source in substantial part outside the United States, to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States. To address that threat, I invoked my authority under section 1702(a)(1)(B) of IEEPA to impose ad valorem tariffs on articles that are products of Mexico.
This looks back at the Mexico duties. On February 1, 2025 the President made a finding. He found that Mexico had not stopped the drug trade. He called that a threat to the country. He then used an emergency law. That law let him set duties on Mexican goods.
Sec. 2. Immediate Steps
Pursuant to section 3 of my Executive Order of February 1, 2025, titled ``Imposing Duties to Address the Situation at Our Southern Border'' (``the Executive Order of February 1, 2025''), I have determined that the Government of Mexico has taken immediate steps designed to alleviate the illegal migration and illicit drug crisis through cooperative actions. Further time is needed, however, to assess whether these steps constitute sufficient action to alleviate the crisis and resolve the unusual and extraordinary threat beyond our southern border.
Pursuant to section 3 of my Executive Order of February 1, 2025, titled ``Imposing Duties to Address the Situation at Our Southern Border'' (``the Executive Order of February 1, 2025''), I have determined that the Government of Mexico has taken immediate steps designed to alleviate the illegal migration and illicit drug crisis through cooperative actions. Further time is needed, however, to assess whether these steps constitute sufficient action to alleviate the crisis and resolve the unusual and extraordinary threat beyond our southern border.
This says Mexico has taken first steps. Those steps aim to ease the crisis. They were taken with the United States. The President says more time is needed. Only then can the steps be judged. The question is whether they go far enough.
Sec. 3. Pause
(a) In recognition of the steps taken by the Government of Mexico, and in order to assess whether the threat described in section 1 of this order has abated, the additional 25 percent ad valorem rate of duty shall be paused and will not take effect until March 4, 2025, at 12:01 a.m. eastern time. Accordingly, sections 2(a), section 2(d), and section 2(e) of the Executive Order of February 1, 2025, are amended by striking the term ``February 4, 2025,'' where it appears in those sections and inserting in lieu thereof the term ``March, 4, 2025.'' The exceptions set forth in section 2(a) of the Executive Order of February 1, 2025, related to covered goods loaded onto a vessel at a port of entry or in transit on the final mode of transport prior to entry into the United States are, hereby, withdrawn. (b) During this pause, the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the
(a) In recognition of the steps taken by the Government of Mexico, and in order to assess whether the threat described in section 1 of this order has abated, the additional 25 percent ad valorem rate of duty shall be paused and will not take effect until March 4, 2025, at 12:01 a.m. eastern time. Accordingly, sections 2(a), section 2(d), and section 2(e) of the Executive Order of February 1, 2025, are amended by striking the term ``February 4, 2025,'' where it appears in those sections and inserting in lieu thereof the term ``March, 4, 2025.'' The exceptions set forth in section 2(a) of the Executive Order of February 1, 2025, related to covered goods loaded onto a vessel at a port of entry or in transit on the final mode of transport prior to entry into the United States are, hereby, withdrawn. (b) During this pause, the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the
This pauses the Mexico duties. The extra 25 percent does not start yet. It is put off to March 4, 2025. The dates in the earlier order are changed to match. An exemption for goods in transit is withdrawn. Homeland Security keeps watch during the pause.
Sec. 4. Severability
Every order carries this. It is not what the order does.
If any provision of this order, or the application of any provision to any person or circumstance, is held to be invalid, the remainder of this order and the application of its provisions to any other persons or circumstances shall not be affected thereby. [[Page 9186]]
If any provision of this order, or the application of any provision to any person or circumstance, is held to be invalid, the remainder of this order and the application of its provisions to any other persons or circumstances shall not be affected thereby. [[Page 9186]]
This is the standard severability clause. If a court strikes down part of the order, the rest still stands.
Sec. 5. General Provisions
Every order carries this. It is not what the order does.
(a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect: (i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or (ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals. (b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations. (c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person. <GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT> (Presidential Sig.) THE WHITE HOUSE, February 3, 2025. [FR Doc. 2025-02479 Filed 2-7-25; 8:45 am] Billing code 3395-F4-P </pre></body> </html>
(a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect: (i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or (ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals. (b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations. (c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person. <GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT> (Presidential Sig.) THE WHITE HOUSE, February 3, 2025. [FR Doc. 2025-02479 Filed 2-7-25; 8:45 am] Billing code 3395-F4-P </pre></body> </html>
This is the closing clause that nearly every order carries. It says the order does not change what the law already allows. It also says no one can sue to enforce it.
How this order is quoted
Each section is quoted as the order prints it, under its own number and heading. Executive orders are United States government works and are not under copyright. Long sections are cut at a sentence and the whole order is a click away.