President Donald Trump confirmed Thursday that new 25 percent tariffs on Canada and Mexico will take effect on March 4, while also threatening an additional 10 percent tariff on Chinese goods. Trump justified the policy by citing street drugs “pouring into our country”, despite federal data showing Canada plays almost no role in fentanyl trafficking.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection data contradicts Trump’s claim, as fentanyl smuggling from Mexico has dropped by 50 percent over the past year. Meanwhile, overdose deaths have fallen nearly 25 percent nationwide, with some states seeing a 30 to 50 percent decline. Dr. Nora Volkow, head of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, called the fentanyl death decline “a huge reduction.”
When asked about evidence linking Canada to drug trafficking, Trump insisted drugs were crossing the northern border undetected. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau previously announced measures to enhance border security, including drones, scanners, and sniffer dog teams.
Despite citing drugs as a rationale for tariffs, Trump has pardoned federal drug offenders, including Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht. His administration has also extended pardons to January 6 defendants facing drug-related charges.
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