Trump team signs key transition agreements as he promises massive tariff hikes. Here's the latest

President-elect Donald Trump’s team signed a key agreement with the White House unlocking transition briefings and activities after a lengthy delay amid concerns, in part, over a mandatory ethics agreement.

The White House agreement, which was due October 1, serves as the gatekeeper for access to agencies and information and could lay groundwork for Trump’s team to receive security clearances necessary to begin receiving classified information, though it was not immediately clear how that information sharing with the Biden administration would proceed.

White House spokesperson Saloni Sharma confirmed Trump’s team signed the White House memorandum of understanding, adding that the Biden White House and General Services Administration “repeatedly made the case” to Trump’s team to sign the pair of agreements starting in September.

Catch up on the latest headlines from the transition:

• Mexico and Canada react to Trump’s tariff promise: Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum responded Tuesday to Trump’s threat to impose a general tariff of 25% on imports from Mexico and Canada, warning the former president that “neither threats nor tariffs will solve the issue of migration or drug consumption.” Meanwhile, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau confirmed he called Trump shortly after the US president-elect’s tariff announcement. “This is a relationship that we know takes a certain amount of working on, and that’s what we’ll do,” Trudeau said. Trump also announced Monday night he will impose additional tariffs of 10% on China.
• Businesses weigh in on tariff news: Shares of General Motors, Ford and Chrysler owner Stellantis all retreated on Tuesday after Trump announced tariff hike proposal on all products coming from Mexico and Canada . A leading footwear industry trade group warned the tariffs on neighboring countries will lift prices on Americans. The trade group represents dozens of companies including Nike, DSW, Cros, Under Armour and Walmart.
• Texas provides US border policy blueprint: Texas is quickly becoming the blueprint for how incoming Trump officials expect to work with states on border security — a stark pivot from recent years when it was the epicenter of a bitter feud between state and federal officials.

Additionally, Trump announced a flurry of picks in his administration Tuesday:

• Jamieson Greer was picked to serve as US Trade Representative.
• Dr. Jay Bhattacharya was picked to lead the National Institutes of Health.
• Jim O’Neill was picked to be the deputy secretary of Health and Human Services.
• Vince Haley was picked to be the director of the Domestic Policy Council.
• Kevin Hassett was picked to be the director of the White House National Economic Council.
• John Phelan was picked to be the secretary of the Navy.