Former President Donald Trump has reignited his agenda with a fiery declaration of his policies on tariffs and the fentanyl crisis.
As he prepares for the return to the White House on January 20, Trump’s messaging emphasizes strength on trade, public health, and putting American interests above all else.
Tariffs: Protecting American Industry
Trump doubled down on his long-standing belief in using tariffs to put pressure on other countries. Addressing the escalating fentanyl crisis, Trump pledged to implement unprecedented measures to combat the influx of synthetic opioids into and stop teh flow of migrants to the United States. He called for tighter border controls and aggressive action against cartels.
“On January 20th, as one of my many first Executive Orders, I will sign all necessary documents to charge Mexico and Canada a 25% Tariff on ALL products coming into the United States, and its ridiculous Open Borders”, he wrote on Truth Social: “This Tariff will remain in effect until such time as Drugs, in particular Fentanyl, and all Illegal Aliens stop this Invasion of our Country! Both Mexico and Canada have the absolute right and power to easily solve this long simmering problem”.
“Fentanyl is killing our citizens at record rates,” Trump declared. “We will hold China and the cartels accountable. Under my leadership, they’ll understand there are consequences for poisoning our communities.”
Trump Issues Tariff Warning Over Fentanyl Crisis
Former President Donald Trump has expressed frustration over China’s lack of action in combating the flow of fentanyl into the United States. In a recent statement, Trump highlighted his repeated discussions with Chinese officials regarding the surge of drugs, particularly fentanyl, entering the U.S. — talks that he says have yielded no significant results.
“I have had many talks with China about the massive amounts of drugs, in particular fentanyl, being sent into the United States, but to no avail,” Trump said. He noted that Chinese representatives had assured him they would impose the maximum penalty—death—on drug dealers involved in trafficking. However, he claimed that these promises have not been fulfilled, leading to unprecedented levels of drug inflow, primarily through Mexico.
In response, Trump announced his intention to impose an additional 10% tariff on all Chinese imports into the United States. This new tariff would be on top of any existing duties already in place. “Until such time as they stop, we will be charging China an additional 10% tariff on all of their many products coming into the United States of America,” Trump declared.
This proposed measure underscores Trump’s commitment to tackling the opioid crisis and holding foreign nations accountable for their role in the ongoing epidemic. It also signals a continuation of his tough-on-China trade policies, which were a hallmark of his administration.
