US President-Elect Claims China’s Inaction on Fentanyl Justifies Additional Tariffs

Donald Trump has announced plans to impose additional tariffs on Chinese imports, citing China’s failure to halt the flow of fentanyl into the United States as a key reason for the move. Trump’s decision includes a 25% tariff on goods from China, Mexico, and Canada, along with a new 10% tariff on China specifically. He has linked the tariff threat to China’s inability to control the trafficking of fentanyl, which he claims is flooding into the U.S. through Mexico, exacerbating the opioid crisis.

China has disputed these claims, stating that it has strict counternarcotics policies in place and that fentanyl remains a major issue for the U.S. itself. Despite this, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has indicated that fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid, began entering the country from China over a decade ago, although most of the fentanyl-related substances now come from Mexico, where precursor chemicals are processed into the drug.

The U.S. had seen success in working with China to combat fentanyl trafficking in the past, especially after China permanently listed fentanyl as a controlled substance in 2019. However, tensions between the U.S. and China have risen, particularly after Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan in 2022, leading to a breakdown in cooperation on narcotics issues.

Fentanyl, a drug far more potent than heroin, continues to be a significant contributor to the U.S. opioid epidemic, with nearly 75,000 deaths attributed to fentanyl overdose last year. Despite ongoing efforts, the U.S. continues to face a massive challenge in curbing the flow of this deadly substance into its borders.