Tariffs Imposed on National Security Reasons
The US administration is proceeding with the tariff imposition on Mexican and Canadian imports using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). The action seeks to address what officials describe as an unprecedented threat to national security, primarily based on unbridled drug smuggling. Authorities argue that the two nations have not been able to curtail the operations of cartels and the entry of lethal drugs into the United States.
The illegal trade of fentanyl and other smuggled drugs into the United States has reached national crisis levels, representing a serious public health emergency. Mexican drug cartels, some of the world’s leading fentanyl traffickers, are said to be operating with negligible interference. These organizations, like the Sinaloa and Jalisco cartels, manufacture fentanyl in secret laboratories all over Mexico prior to smuggling it into the U.S. at a number of points of entry. Government records indicate that 97% of drug seizures on the U.S.-Mexico border.
In addition, cartel violence, including the use of armed drones and roadside bombs, has escalated along the border and threatens U.S. and Mexican law enforcement institutions further. Governments assert that Mexico’s failure to dismantle cartel activities and its alleged links to such groups pose direct threats to U.S. national security. As a reaction, the government responded aggressively through tariffs, with the goal of compelling Mexico to exercise tighter enforcement against drug trafficking networks.
Canada’s Growing Role in the Drug Trade
While most of the focus remains on Mexico, authorities have also pointed to Canada’s growing role in fentanyl manufacturing and smuggling. A recent report mentioned a rise in Canada-based drug trafficking groups, which have expanded their production capacity. Tariffs on imports have been used as a means of countering these issues and pressuring bordering countries.
While seizures along the northern border remain fewer than those along the southern border, authorities indicate that the amount intercepted presents a genuine threat to American lives. During the first quarter of this fiscal year, fentanyl seizures along the U.S.-Canada border already have neared figures from the entire last year, showing an alarming trend.
The administration’s argument is that Mexico and Canada have not done enough to break up trafficking networks, arrest key players, or cooperate fully with U.S. law enforcement. In this case, tariffs are being imposed as a means of holding the two countries responsible and limiting the flow of illegal drugs into the United States.
Addressing Border Security and Trade Policies
In addition to combatting drug smuggling, the government of the U.S. has pointed out more general concerns about border security as it reported the record-high figure of attempted illegal crossers into the country. Encounters along both the southern and northern borders have soared during the past year. Tariffs on imports are included in the strategy for dealing with the crisis, one which officials characterize as affecting multiple domains of American life.
More than 21,000 pounds of fentanyl were seized at America’s borders in the last fiscal year, according to Customs and Border Protection statistics—enough to risk the lives of millions of Americans. All the while, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) continues to give astounding numbers on fentanyl overdose deaths, the leading drug-induced cause of death in the country. Synthetic opioids, led predominantly by fentanyl, accounted for 68% of drug poisoning deaths in recent years.
To continue to strengthen border security, the government is employing tariffs on imports as a means of exerting pressure on bordering nations. The government maintains that past tariff policies have effectively been used in gaining cooperation on border control measures. The administration maintains that the tariffs will remain in effect until meaningful action is achieved by Canada and Mexico in stopping the smuggling of illegal drugs and illegal crossings into the United States.
