Donald Trump threatens new tariffs on China, Mexico and Canada against drug trafficking and illegal immigration.
On Truth, the president-elect threatened an additional 10% tariff on all of his products exported to the US from Beijing until he puts an end to drug trafficking in the United States, particularly Fentanyl.
“I have had many conversations with China – he writes on his social network – about the enormous quantities of drugs, in particular Fentanyl, shipped to the United States, but to no avail.
China’s representatives told me they would set their maximum penalty, death, for any trafficker caught doing so, but, unfortunately, they never followed through on it and drugs are flowing into our country, mostly through Mexico , at levels never seen before. Until they stop, we will charge China an additional 10% tariff, on top of any additional tariffs, on all of its many products entering the United States of America.”
Trump also promised to sign it as one of his first executive orders on his inauguration day. the imposition on Mexico and Canada of a 25% tariff on all products arriving in the United States until they put an end to drug trafficking (fentanyl once again) and illegal migrants.
“As everyone knows – he writes on his social network – thousands of people are crossing Mexico and Canada, bringing crime and drugs to levels never seen before. At this moment a caravan coming from Mexico, made up of thousands of people, seems to be unstoppable in its attempt to cross our current open border. On January 20, as one of my first executive orders, I will sign all the necessary paperwork to impose a 25% tariff on all products coming into the United States across its ridiculous borders. open”.
“This tariff – he continues – will remain in force until drugs, especially Fentanyl, and all illegal immigrants stop this invasion of our country! Both Mexico and Canada have the absolute right and power to easily solve this problem that has been brewing for some time. We hereby demand that they use this power, and until they do so, it is time for them to pay a very high price!”
China to Trump, ‘no one will win a trade war’
“No one will win a trade war or tariff war” between the US and China, Chinese embassy spokesman Liu Pengyu said in a statement. “China believes that bilateral economic and trade cooperation is “mutually beneficial,” Liu added.
Liu recalled in the note that Beijing had taken measures to combat drug trafficking after the agreement reached in 2023 between American President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping. “The Chinese side has notified the US side of the progress made in US-related counter-drug operations,” the spokesperson added, according to which “all of this demonstrates that the idea that China knowingly allows fentanyl precursors to flow in the United States is completely contrary to facts and reality.”
There has been progress in bilateral cooperation to block the illicit trafficking of chemical substances used to synthesize fentanyl, the opioid at the origin of a serious social phenomenon in America whose chemical precursors are mainly produced in China. The United States, where fentanyl abuse is a leading cause of death, has pushed Beijing to strengthen law enforcement, including tackling illicit finance and tightening controls on exported chemicals.
In June, China’s chief prosecutor urged law enforcement officials to focus on fighting drug trafficking, as Beijing and Washington unveiled a rare joint investigation into the phenomenon. In August, just days after a meeting of a joint counter-narcotics working group, China said it would tighten controls on three chemicals essential to the production of fentanyl.