Addressing a National Emergency

President Trump is taking bold action to hold Mexico, Canada and China accountable for stopping illegal immigration and preventing the flow of fentanyl and other drugs into the United States. The administration asserts that the illicit distribution networks trafficking these substances have created a national public health and security crisis.

Chinese officials have failed to curb the export of precursor chemicals to criminal cartels and crack down on transnational money laundering operations. Additionally, the administration accuses the Mexican government of tolerating an alliance with drug cartels, allowing them to manufacture and transport dangerous narcotics that have led to hundreds of thousands of American overdose deaths.

The presence of Mexican cartels operating fentanyl and nitazene synthesis labs in Canada is also growing. A recent study recognized Canada’s increasing domestic production of fentanyl and its expanding role in international narcotics distribution.

Leveraging Trade to Protect Americans

Previous administrations failed to use America’s economic power to secure the borders and combat the fentanyl crisis. Trump’s administration contends that access to the U.S. market is a privilege and that tariffs are a proven tool to protect national security.

The United States maintains one of the most open economies globally, with some of the lowest tariff rates. However, while trade accounts for 67% of Canada’s GDP, 73% of Mexico’s GDP and 37% of China’s GDP, it only accounts for 24% of U.S. GDP. The administration points to a $1 trillion U.S. trade deficit in goods in 2023 as justification for these measures.

Fulfilling a Promise to Stop Illegal Immigration and Drug Trafficking

Trump argues that voters gave him a mandate to seal the border and take action against illegal immigration. The administration claims that under President Biden, more than 10 million illegal aliens attempted to enter the United States, including an increasing number of Chinese nationals and individuals on the terror watchlist.

Illegal immigration is impacting all aspects of American life, the administration states, overwhelming schools, lowering wages, straining hospitals and increasing crime. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) seized more than 21,000 pounds of fentanyl at U.S. borders last fiscal year—enough to kill over 4 billion people. Officials estimate that only a fraction of fentanyl smuggled into the country is intercepted.

Fentanyl overdoses now claim the lives of 75,000 Americans annually—more than the total U.S. casualties in the Vietnam War.

Building on Past Success

President Trump continues to emphasize that trade policy is a critical component of national security.

In November, Trump vowed to impose a 25% tariff on all Canadian and Mexican imports until drug trafficking and illegal immigration were under control. During his first term, Trump declared the opioid crisis a public health emergency, used tariff threats to strengthen border security with Mexico and imposed steel and aluminum tariffs to protect U.S. industries.

His administration also targeted China’s intellectual property theft and forced technology transfers, using tariffs as leverage to secure a historic bilateral economic agreement.

Just last week, Trump’s tariff policy was credited with swiftly resolving national security concerns with Colombia, reinforcing his commitment to prioritizing American safety and border security.