ADDRESSING A NATIONAL EMERGENCY
The escalating crisis at the border, driven by illegal immigration and the influx of deadly drugs like fentanyl, has been declared a national emergency under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). In response to this critical situation, President Donald J. Trump is imposing significant tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico. These measures include a 25% additional tariff on imports from both Mexico and Canada, with a reduced 10% tariff applied to energy resources specifically from Canada. This decisive action aims to hold both Mexico and Canada accountable for their commitments to effectively curtail illegal immigration and halt the flow of poisonous fentanyl and other dangerous drugs into the United States.
These orders underscore the severity of the situation, emphasizing that the uncontrolled influx of contraband drugs, particularly fentanyl, through illicit networks constitutes a national emergency, encompassing a grave public health crisis. Furthermore, there is a strong assertion that Chinese officials have not taken sufficient measures to stop the flow of precursor chemicals used in fentanyl production to criminal cartels and to dismantle money laundering operations by transnational criminal organizations.
Adding to the complexity, Mexican drug trafficking organizations are described as having an unacceptable alliance with the government of Mexico. This alleged alliance is accused of providing safe havens for cartels to manufacture and transport dangerous narcotics, which has contributed significantly to the overdose deaths of hundreds of thousands of Americans. This situation is presented as a threat to the national security of the United States, necessitating decisive action to eradicate the influence of these cartels.
The issue extends beyond the US-Mexico border, with a growing concern about Mexican cartels establishing fentanyl and nitazene synthesis labs in Canada. Recent studies have highlighted Canada’s increasing domestic fentanyl production and its expanding role in international narcotics distribution networks.
LEVERAGING ECONOMIC STRENGTH FOR NATIONAL SECURITY
Previous administrations are criticized for not fully utilizing America’s economic power to secure borders against illegal migration and combat the fentanyl crisis. There was a perceived reluctance to use economic leverage, allowing these critical problems to worsen.
Access to the vast American market is emphasized as a privilege. The United States is presented as having one of the most open economies globally, characterized by some of the lowest average tariff rates worldwide. In the context of trade dependence, it is noted that trade accounts for a significant portion of the GDP for Canada (67%), Mexico (73%), and China (37%), while it represents a smaller fraction of the U.S. GDP (24%). Despite this, the U.S. faced a substantial trade deficit in goods in 2023, exceeding $1 trillion, the largest globally.
Tariffs are described as a potent and proven instrument for safeguarding national interests. President Trump’s administration is portrayed as actively using these tools and taking decisive steps to prioritize American safety and national security. In contrast to previous administrations, President Trump is credited with leveraging America’s economic strength and unique position in global trade to advance the security interests of the American people.
FULFILLING PROMISES TO SECURE BORDERS AND COMBAT DRUGS
President Trump’s actions are presented as a fulfillment of his promise to stop illegal immigration and drug trafficking, reflecting the mandate given to him by voters who elected him to secure the border. The current administration’s policies are blamed for fueling what is described as the worst border crisis in U.S. history.
Under the current administration, it’s claimed that over 10 million illegal aliens have attempted to enter the United States, including an increasing number of Chinese nationals and individuals on terror watchlists. This border crisis is not limited to the southern border, as encounters at the northern border with Canada are also reportedly rising.
The continuous influx of illegal immigrants is portrayed as having severe consequences across various aspects of American life, including straining schools, depressing wages, reducing housing availability and increasing rents, overwhelming hospitals, depleting welfare systems, and contributing to crime. It’s stated that gang members, smugglers, human traffickers, and illegal drugs are flowing across borders into communities.
Data is provided to highlight the scale of the drug crisis. In the last fiscal year, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reportedly seized over 21,000 pounds of fentanyl at the borders, an amount claimed to be enough to kill over 4 billion people. However, it is acknowledged that federal officials are likely only intercepting a small fraction of the fentanyl being smuggled across the southern border. The devastating impact of these drugs is emphasized, with fentanyl alone attributed to 75,000 American deaths per year, exceeding the number of American lives lost in the entire Vietnam War.
BUILDING ON A RECORD OF PRIORITIZING AMERICAN INTERESTS
President Trump’s commitment to ensuring that U.S. trade policy serves national interests is presented as consistent with his past actions. Reference is made to the Presidential Memorandum on American First Trade Policy, which designates trade policy as a critical element of national security.
It is recalled that President Trump pledged to impose a 25% tariff on all products from Mexico and Canada until they stopped the flow of drugs, particularly fentanyl, and illegal immigrants into the United States. During his first term, he established the President’s Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis and declared the opioid crisis a public health emergency.
President Trump’s history of prioritizing American interests in trade is highlighted. His administration previously used the threat of tariffs on Mexico to enhance border security. Tariffs were also implemented on steel and aluminum imports to protect national security from global oversupply. In response to China’s intellectual property theft and forced technology transfer, tariffs were imposed, which were used as leverage to reach a bilateral economic agreement. More recently, tariffs were reportedly used to resolve national security concerns with Colombia, achieving an outcome that prioritizes American safety and border security.
