The president signed executive orders today offering a monthlong exemption, until April 2, for all goods covered under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement, which includes most U.S. imports from those countries. About 10 percent of Mexico’s exports to the U.S. fall outside the U.S.M.C.A. trade agreement, according to one economist.

The Realpolitik of U.S. trade policies and tariffs is driven by the fact that China is the top priority for U.S. national security and economic security in Cold War Two.