Trump Blames China for Fentanyl Crisis, Imposes Tariffs on Chinese Goods

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President Donald Trump has announced significant tariffs on Chinese goods, attributing the action to China's failure to halt exports of chemicals used in the production of fentanyl, a powerful opioid. According to Trump, Chinese corporations knowingly supply substances that contribute to the opioid crisis in the United States. In response, China has implemented its own tariffs.

The US has recorded over 74,000 overdose deaths linked to fentanyl mixtures in 2023, according to the US Centers for Disease Control. Fentanyl is primarily manufactured in Mexico using precursor chemicals sourced from China. The US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) reports that Mexican cartels, particularly the Sinaloa Cartel, are heavily involved in the trafficking of fentanyl into the US, which predominantly occurs through the southern border with Mexico.

Furthermore, Trump has accused Canada and Mexico of inadequately preventing the smuggling of fentanyl, though only 0.2% of fentanyl seizures were made at the Canadian border, with most occurring at the US-Mexico border. In a recent statement, China defended its drug laws and operations against fentanyl, asserting that the US needs to address its own issues related to the crisis.

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