U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday said his proposed 25% tariffs on Mexican and Canadian goods will take effect March 4 along with an extra 10% duty on Chinese imports because deadly drugs are still pouring into the U.S. from those countries.
Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that the fresh tariffs on Chinese import would stack on top of the 10% tariff that he levied on Feb. 4 over the fentanyl opioid crisis, resulting in a cumulative 20% tariff.
Trump first announced the new duties on Chinese imports in a post on his Truth Social site that he would impose the additional 10% tariff, effective March 4.
In the post, Trump said drugs, namely fentanyl, were still coming into the U.S. at "very high and unacceptable levels," with a large percentage of them the deadly opioid fentanyl.
"We cannot allow this scourge to continue to harm the USA, and therefore, until it stops, or is seriously limited, the proposed TARIFFS scheduled to go into effect on MARCH FOURTH will, indeed, go into effect, as scheduled," Trump added. "China will likewise be charged an additional 10% Tariff on that date."
Trump told reporters he decided to add the extra tariffs on China and stick to the Tuesday deadline for Canada and Mexico given what his administration sees as insufficient progress on curbing fentanyl flows into the country.
Asked if Mexico and Canada had made enough progress on curbing fentanyl shipments into the U.S., Trump said: "I don't see that at all. No, not on drugs."
"There are ongoing discussions with the Chinese, Mexico and Canada. We've gotten a good handle on the migration issue, but there are still concerns on the other issue of fentanyl deaths," a White House official told Reuters.
The official said White House officials including deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller and border czar Tom Homan were closely monitoring information on fentanyl deaths and field reports from law enforcement around the country.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, 72,776 people died from synthetic opioids in 2023 in the U.S., chiefly from fentanyl.
Customs and Border Patrol agents seized 991 pounds of fentanyl at the southwest border in January 2025, down 50.5% from a year earlier, but still enough to kill many millions of Americans, the White House official said.
TARIFF TACTICS
Trump's decision to ratchet up tariffs on Chinese goods mirrors his actions to systematically escalate tariffs during his first-term trade wars with Beijing until serious trade negotiations took place between the world's two largest economies.
Thus far, Chinese President Xi Jinping has not engaged in negotiations over fentanyl, instead applying limited 10% retaliatory duties on U.S. energy and farm equipment.
But Beijing could push back harder if Trump's new tariffs reach 20% on all U.S. imports from China, which totaled $439 billion last year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. Many of those imports already faced duties of up to 25% from Trump's first-term trade actions.
Piling on more tariffs could pose risks to both the Chinese and U.S. economies. China has been struggling with a property crisis and weak domestic demand, while U.S. inflation remains sticky and interest rates are elevated.
China, in a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, said China and the United States should address concerns in economic and trade fields through equal dialogue and consultation.
Trump's statement cleared up some confusion that he sowed on Wednesday over deadlines for the punishing tariffs on Canadian and Mexican goods that the president has threatened over the fentanyl crisis and U.S. border security.
Trump's comments on the matter during his first cabinet meeting on Wednesday seemed to suggest that he could push the deadline back for about one month until April 4.
But subsequent comments from Trump administration officials indicated that the April deadline was for Trump's "reciprocal tariffs" matching import duty rates of other countries and offsetting their other restrictions. His trade advisers consider European countries' value added taxes to be akin to a tariff.
TARIFF, BORDER TALKS
Meanwhile, Canadian and Mexican officials were due to meet with Trump administration counterparts in Washington on Thursday and Friday to try to forestall the tariffs, which could deal a serious blow to a highly integrated North American economy.
Mexican Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard will meet with newly confirmed U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on Thursday and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on Friday.
Ebrard's deputy, Vidal Llerenas on Thursday said Mexico could roll out other trade measures beyond its recent imposition of tariffs on low-cost imports aimed at reducing cheap shipments from China.
In Canada, Public Safety Minister David McGuinty said on Thursday that the progress Canada has made on tightening security along the border with the United States and combating drug smuggling should satisfy the Trump administration.
"The evidence is irrefutable - progress is being made," McGuinty said in televised remarks to reporters in Washington ahead of two days of talks with U.S. officials.
"In my view, any test that was put on Canada in terms of showing progress and meeting standards for the border - I believe those have been met," he said.
The Canada Border Services Agency said in a statement that it was launching a targeted, cross-country initiative to intercept illegal contraband arriving and leaving the country, with a focus on fentanyl and other synthetic narcotics.
© Thomson Reuters 2025.
71 Comments
Desert Tortoise
What about the lower prices you promised fat boy?
Jay
What ever your opinion on The Donald, anyone who cares about their family and community must recognize that this is completely necessary. The only ones who wouldn't be are the open-border, drug-friendly radical leftists, who shrug their shoulders as fentanyl and other deadly drugs flood into American communities.
Oh, and the same people screaming about "human rights" and "fair trade" conveniently ignore the countless lives lost to overdoses, the families torn apart, and the chaos in (particularly) Uber "Liberal" cities. If Mexico and China won’t take responsibility, then they can pay the price - literally. Maybe now they'll think twice before turning a blind eye to the devastation their inaction enables.
TaiwanIsNotChina
The tariffs on Canada are completely unnecessary.
NOMINATION
So is letting fentanyl flow freely into our country.
Jay
The tariffs on Canada won't happen TINC... it's a strategic bargaining tool, and it already seems to be working as intended as just the threat of them has forced action, proving once again that tough negotiation gets results where previous weak leadership has failed.
TaiwanIsNotChina
Nobody in their right mind is manufacturing fentanyl in Canada for export to the US. Literally less than 1% of the flow from Mexico. It's not right to strip search everyone coming across that border, either.
bass4funk
Good!
I'veSeenFootage
Yes, more tariffs Donald! Make that inflation explode! Keep digging your own political grave!
I'veSeenFootage
There's about as much fentanyl flowing from Canada as there is maple syrup flowing from Mexico.
Gorramcowboy
Whatever tarrifs get imposed, I hope those countries reciprocate in turn.
Underworld
NOMINATION
The tariffs on Canada are completely unnecessary.
What are you talking about?
Do you know how much Fentanyl from Canada was seized in 2024?
43 pounds.
Forty-three measly pounds.
This isn't about Fentanyl.
Blacklabel
“43 pounds of fentanyl” can kill how many people?
Blacklabel
Got time to “downvote” a question but no time to answer?
the answer is around 10 million people can be killed by 43 pounds.
This is Assuming that number is accurate (it’s not- how much was not seized?) and assuming it’s not 43 kilograms.
a canadian drug lab was recently raided and had 54 kilograms of fentanyl plus a huge quantity of meth.
where was that going to be sold?
I'veSeenFootage
Less than 43 pounds of AR-15s, so I'm sure you are for the eradication of those too, right?
Blacklabel
oh that’s cute.
No, I am not.
TokyoLiving
This clown will ruin world's economy, included his unfortunate country..
patkim
The bigger problem is demand. If there is no demand, then there is no business. Americans have to look at themselves and absolutely educate their people on the dangers of doing drugs. Tougher measures should be taken to those abusing drugs and those who push it on them. It also takes parents and educators to not be afraid to be honest with their children about the dangers of doing drugs. I credit my ability to staying away from drugs not to any form of tariffs, but the education of my parents, the friends I hung around, and my teachers.
theFu
Well, for the reasons that Trump is lying about, I agree. OTOH, a 10% tariff for all countries that have govt paid health care would be fair. That's a 10%-12% advantage over US competitiveness in the world. Of course, the US could move to govt paid health care for everyone to become more competitive, but 20% of the American workers wouldn't like that.
https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/stats/drug-seizure-statistics shows seizures in 2024 were under 2,000 lbs per month of illegal fentanyl entering the US from everywhere.
The northern border seizures are around 5 lbs per month, on average.
The southern border seizures are around 1800 lbs per month, on average.
So, Canada isn't really the issue. Mexico is.
According to CNN, Canada is the source for just 0.2% of the illegal fentanyl entering the US.
https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/03/politics/us-canada-trade-fentanyl-fact-check/index.html
Grouping Canada with Mexico is sensational and doesn't make logical sense to anyone. Trump is an idiot for this tactic. Use something else if he wants to set tariffs on Canada.
If people living in the US stopped buying fentanyl, their wouldn't be any issue with it from anywhere.
Blacklabel
so Canadian drug labs ARE manufacturing it to transport across the border to America and kill our citizens?
that admission proves why our President is correct and has no choice but to do this.
patkim
Well then, if it's all about fetanyl (which it is not), then Canada and Mexico has every right to impose tariffs on the U.S.. since they have been proven to have more illegal underground drub labs (as evidenced with the number of drug busts made of such organizations). The U.S. has to clearly look at the problem within its own borders, since it's way bigger than anything coming from outside.
theFu
Mexico and Canada could add tariffs on US goods and blame it on weapons entering their country until the US does a better job at preventing illegal firearms from entering those countries.
Tit for tat.
kokajp
People around the world need to totally boycott American products and services. Let’s ensure America fades into the background where it belongs.
Underworld
Blacklabel
That's not the point and you know it.
Trump is threatening 25% tariffs on Canada because 0.2% of US border fentanyl seizures come from that country, which is patently ridiculous.
patkim
By the way, why so hard on fetanyl, but not on guns? Yes, fetanyl, as with any drug, if abused can lead to severe consequences. Yet, fetanyl in small doses, since it's an opioid has been used to treat severe pain, like morphine. So, like a gun, which conservatives like to tout as just a tool that doesn't kill, fetanyl by itself doesn't kill. Only if used, will it kill, just like a gun. If left on a table without anyone touching it, both fetanyl and a gun does nothing. Left in the hands of a person with intent, yes, both could kill.
I'veSeenFootage
43 pounds per year is hardly "drug labs", more like some dude's bathroom.
patkim
By the way, even ketamine (which Musk himself has admitted to abusing) in large doses could kill, so where is the anger against that? Heck, even alcohol, which is involved in DUI kills everyday, is dangerous.
I'veSeenFootage
The main difference being that fentanyl kills people who use it, and guns kill everyone around the guy shooting. So they're actually way worse. But don't worry, MAGA only pretend they care about dead americans. In reality, they really don't.
Blacklabel
oh so now we are up to 60 pounds that can kill 16 million people. Thanks for the update!
Jay
Yes, 100% agree that demand is a huge part of the problem - education, parenting, and PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY are crucial in keeping away from drugs. But we cannot pretend that supply isn't just as big an issue. Criminal cartels aren't exactly waiting around for willing customers; they aggressively push their product, flood communities with cheap, deadly drugs, and get people hooked. Tougher border security, law enforcement, and economic pressure on source countries absolutely can and will play a role in cutting off the supply chain.
Blacklabel
Border security. For drugs and illegal immigrants. Totally the point.
we just need to ignore a Canada threat cause there is another threat that is larger in Mexico?
thats why we can and are setting tariffs on both. We aren’t limited to just picking the worst, are we?
wallace
Many hundreds of thousands of drug users are buying drugs laced with fentanyl to increase their addictions, but unfortunately, it leads to overdose deaths for many.
lincolnman
Welcome to Trump-flation....where prices will go up everywhere - just as they're doing now....
The Trump 2.0 economy - even worse than the previous one...just look at consumer confidence plummeting...
https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/us-consumer-confidence-plummets-february
This is what happens when you elect a guy as President that is so incompetent that he bankrupted a casino...
In another six months, things will be so bad that even the MAGA-faithful will be longing for Biden...
wallace
Mexican fentanyl producers are importing precursors from China, not fentanyl. China isn't exporting fentanyl but it needs tighter control over those precursors.
iknowall
Excellent news!
Blacklabel
nice one, even got Musk into it! A+ effort! you and the whaddabout SIX AR-15s guy putting in work to escape this inconvenient topic. DUIs aren’t trafficked across the border that I know of.
so not what anyone is talking about, we talking about fentanyl trafficking and illegal entries from Canada and Mexico that demand tariffs to make them stop.
patkim
FYI, there have been 2,940 raids of drug labs within the U.S., between 2014 and 2023. That's quite a bit within a decade. Mexico and Canada has every right then, to tariff the hell out of the U.S. since the drugs made in the U.S. can then be exported to over their borders.
https://digg.com/data-viz/link/most-illegal-drug-lab-raids-us-states-cities
Peter Neil
if the flow of drugs, including fentanyl, was cut off completely for two weeks, americans would be climbing the border wall to get into mexico.
the american stock market has stalled since trump’s coronation, while exchanges around the world have not. even the mexican stock market has out performed the u.s.
and to add even further pain, the trump budget has eliminated all funding for medicaid. all, as in he’s eliminating medicaid completely and reducing food benefits, both of which support american farmers and the quasi-healthcare industry.
that was his “concept of an idea” to improve healthcare for americans. make ‘em spend more than the rent on health insurance (that will deny 1/3 of all claims), or die you losers.
the u.s. has more people employed in the health insurance industry than in healthcare.
a madman at the helm. as he famously told supporters, “i don’t care about you, i just want your vote.”
and they applauded and voted for him.
plasticmonkey
I remember when the GOP was big on personal responsibility. Now it just blames all problems on foreigners, foreign countries, immigrants, and “the left”.
Fentanyl is a problem in America because America is a miserably dysfunctional, alienating society.
Underworld
Blacklabel
That's not the point and you know it.
No. You don't ignore it. Just continue with normal customs operations. The problem is taken care of.
But threatening Canada, an ally, with tariffs for such minuscule qualities is braindead.
Apart from the inflationary effect on the US, you risk a trade war. And you think that is worth it for 0.2% of the problem?
Crazy.
I'veSeenFootage
No, just putting in work to ridicule your hypocritical and nonsensical arguments!
Trump put tariffs on canada because he doesn't like Trudeau. That's all. It has nothing to do with the economy, illegal immigrants, fentanyl or whatever else you can invent. It's just Trump being a petulant brat, and his team then scrambling to make it look like actual policies. Feeding talking points to the pundit on fox news, which maga loons then regurgitate here. Very simple and not inconvenient in the least.
Peter Neil
oh, and a reminder… who are the people smuggling fentanyl across the border?
americans.
NOMINATION
Nobody said they were manufacturing it in Canada. Maybe you should be looking at Canada's loose immigration system.
wallace
11 million illegal immigrants in the US. 300,000 to 500,000 illegal immigrants in Canada.
In fiscal year 2024, 198,929 people were apprehended crossing the US-Canada border illegally, according to US Customs and Border Protection (CBP). This is a slight increase from the previous year.
TaiwanIsNotChina
If you needed any proof MAGAs cannot into statistics, here you are. Perhaps this explains the gullibility of the whole lot.
TokyoLiving
People who don't know what they write..
Don't have any idea of how economy works..
Peter Neil
when the economy is in the dumpster late summer or early autumn, and americans are angry, look for the standard response by government - choose a boogyman, create an issue and start a war.
make the announcement in a made for tv special with lots and lots of flags. sponsored by fox tv.
HopeSpringsEternal
Free trade must be FAIR trade, two-way, equal market access etc. Concept of reciprocity, so countries can either lower their tariffs or Trump will match their tariffs.
Try importing a car into China for example, next to impossible as the tariff rate is so high. Trump's just doing the same, better build it in the US, DJT wants the jobs, investment and tax revenues.
Those that just want market access will have to pay.
Ditto pharma, semiconductors, etc. Element of national security and supply chain resiliency, but it's really about protecting US workers by re-building the industrial base.
Promises made, promises kept = DJT mandate
Peter Neil
yes, the u.s. tariffs of 100% on chinese ev’s was certainly a fair start to fair trade.
HopeSpringsEternal
Trump's ready to 'rumble' on Trade, why?
He wants downward pressure on US inflation
China and Europe both struggling for economic growth
No midterm election damage, still early in his term
Campaign promise = protect borders, jobs
Wage war w/Cartels, wants Mexico & Canada to join fight
Strategy to get Mexico & Canada to raise tariffs on China, thus strengthen the USMCA trade agreement
GBR48
It's not the fault of foreign countries that so many Americans are weak-willed drug addicts. If there was no demand, nobody would smuggle drugs to supply it. America should man up and stop blaming everyone else for their citizens' personal inadequacies.
HopeSpringsEternal
No doubt there is too much demand for drugs in the US, but fentanyl is particularly troublesome because it can easily be laced into other safe drugs, like pot. So regular people are getting exposed unintentionally and dying.
Cartels are designated terrorists, the war is underway, US military operations hitting them hard globally now and China needs to do its part with pre-cursors and their organized crime, which they promised DJT in 1.0
Blacklabel
math. 5 pounds per month is indeed 60 pounds per year. Is it not?
that 60 pounds can kill 16 million people despite this “but but it’s only 0.2%!” insistence.
Blacklabel
Mexico lady just agreed to send us 30 drug cartel members/leaders to prosecute. Some we have been asking them to turn over for decades.
interesting timing, huh? Nothing at all to do with tariffs threat?
Peter Neil
let's distill this down to something very simple.
the u.s. is making other countries control the border because it's incapable of doing it.
Underworld
HopeSpringsEternal
Free trade means no tariffs.
Underworld
Blacklabel
If you needed any proof MAGAs cannot into statistics, here you are.
That's because 43 pounds (not 60) isn't killing 16 million people.
HopeSpringsEternal
Trump made it clear that he expects fair trade, so equal market access. If countries, like India, for example decide to lower tariffs and other non-tariff barriers in order to 'reciprocate', then Trump will not have to raise tariffs.
Then consumers and businesses in both India and US will benefit, lower prices and more choice, competition, etc., increasing economic growth while lowering inflation.
Blacklabel
The other guy said 5 pounds a month. Your quarrel is with him.
it CAN kill 16 million. Of course it’s not currently, thank God.
But that supposedly “small” amount can. And will if remains unchecked.
Cephus
If you have ever seen a member of your family, a friend or a neighbor destroyed by drugs. Then you would understand why those tariffs are necessary.
John-San
Indias consumer are not going to buy tariff free over price, poorly made produce from the USA. India are insulted by your fascist analogy. Indian are very well educated and your comment liken them to unintelligible. They will buy tariff imposed very reasonable price well made produces from China. Go back to your Trump propaganda instruction manual for find at lease something that the rest of us could believe. LOL.
Underworld
Blacklabel
That's because 43 pounds (not 60) isn't killing 16 million people.
0.2% is miniscule. It's not worth the inflation and trade war.
HopeSpringsEternal
Let's hope most countries decide to lower their tariffs in order to spur economic activity, putting downward pressure on inflation. Far preferable to Trump having to raise 'reciprocal' tariffs, which he will if necessary.
Blacklabel
Thanks for your insistent opinion that 0.2% isn’t significant. You aren’t even considering how much isn’t seized.
we feel it is significant. And that it is unacceptable and preventable and expect Canada to take action.
until you do, enjoy your tariffs. That’s fact, not opinion.
Blacklabel
Congressional Democrat:
“The fact that I am rooting for Canada and that I am rooting for Mexico a lot is really wild,” the lawmaker said on the radio show.”
not exactly “wild”- more like traitorous.
Underworld
Blacklabel
Nope. What isn't seized will also be 0.2%.
You. Not we. And the truth doesn't care about your feelings.
They have taken action. That is why it is so low.
Well, Trump can do what he wants, but putting tariffs on good will hurt Canada and hurt the US more.
Underworld
HopeSpringsEternal
Most countries don't have tariffs. That is what the WTO is all about.
Tariffs benefit nobody.
John-San
Get of you fascist moral high box and use a drug issue as a moral defense for a 25% tariffs. Cocaine is the largest used drug problem in the USA. The fact is without the illegal cocaine trade that $200 billion is allow through because the USA society would cease functioning if the cocaine trade was stop. Your fascist lies only deceive the Fox News / Disney educated USAmerican. lol.
Peter Neil
the results of trump1 tariffs on steel have been known for years.
u.s. steel manufacturing employment increased by 0.3%. yeah, great news for the steelworkers.
but higher prices for steel increased overall unemployment by 1.4% because of layoffs by companies using the steel from reduced demand due to higher prices for products using steel.
the resulting inflation cost the average household $645 in lost buying power and had a net loss in jobs.
trump is, and has always been, wrong about everything.
Geeter Mckluskie
Blacklabel
so there is a 100% seizure success rate at the border?
first I have heard that. Sounds suspect. Any sources?
Underworld
Blacklabel
Nope. What isn't seized will also be 0.2%.
No, it doesn't mean that at all. It just means that the proportion of unseized drugs will match the seized drugs.