Trump Links Tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China to Fentanyl Crisis

The U.S. escalates trade tensions, citing the opioid epidemic as justification, while fentanyl deaths in the U.S. show a significant decline.

President Trump has imposed new tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China, citing their roles in the fentanyl crisis as justification.
Fentanyl-related overdose deaths in the U.S. have dropped by 51% between May 2023 and August 2024, continuing a downward trend.
China has criticized the U.S. for using fentanyl as a pretext for tariffs and claims it has taken significant measures to curb the illegal trade of fentanyl precursors.
U.S. officials argue that China has not taken sufficient action to stop the export of fentanyl precursors to Mexico, where much of the drug is produced for U.S. markets.
Experts warn that the tariffs could strain diplomatic relations and hinder existing cooperation on combating the opioid crisis.