President Donald Trump announced Thursday that his administration will move forward with new tariffs on imports from China, Canada, and Mexico next week, citing concerns over fentanyl smuggling. The decision comes after a temporary pause on sweeping 25% tariffs against Canada and Mexico, which Trump had initially proposed earlier this month.
In a statement on social media, Trump confirmed that tariffs on Canadian and Mexican goods will take effect as planned next Tuesday unless the fentanyl crisis is “seriously limited.” Additionally, he declared that Chinese imports will face an added 10% tariff on the same date, expanding upon an earlier increase that had already sparked retaliation from Beijing.
A U.S. official told AFP that Washington was forced to act against all three countries due to what it sees as “insufficient progress” in curbing the flow of fentanyl into the United States. The synthetic opioid, largely smuggled through Mexico with chemical precursors from China, has fueled a deadly drug crisis in the U.S.
Trade Tensions Escalate
The move has drawn strong reactions from U.S. trading partners. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum expressed hope for negotiations with Trump to prevent the tariffs from taking effect. Meanwhile, Canadian business leaders have warned that escalating trade tensions could put the future of North America’s free trade agreement at risk.
China, which has already imposed retaliatory tariffs in response to previous U.S. measures, has firmly opposed the latest tariff hikes. In a statement earlier this month, China’s foreign ministry criticized the U.S. for using fentanyl as a justification for trade barriers, arguing that Washington should focus on its own domestic drug crisis instead of penalizing foreign nations. Beijing also warned that the new tariffs could undermine cooperation on counternarcotics efforts between the two economic superpowers.
New Reciprocal Tariffs on the Horizon
Beyond the fentanyl-related tariffs, Trump confirmed that an April 2 deadline for so-called “reciprocal tariffs” remains in place. These tariffs, which will be adjusted based on how each trading partner treats U.S. exports, are currently under review by federal agencies.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick emphasized Trump’s stance in a Fox News interview, stating, “How you treat us is how you get treated.”
As tensions rise, trade and economic officials from Washington and Beijing recently held discussions addressing their mutual concerns, including fentanyl smuggling and the growing tariff dispute. However, with the new levies set to take effect next week, diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the situation remain uncertain.
