In a joint effort, Canada and Mexico presented evidence to the Trump administration on Friday showcasing progress made in restricting the influx of fentanyl opioids into the U.S. The aim was to demonstrate advancements before the impending March 4 deadline for potential 25% tariffs on their imports.
China, facing an additional 10% U.S. import tax starting Tuesday, criticized the U.S. for what it termed “tariff pressure and blackmail” concerning fentanyl, cautioning that these actions could have negative repercussions.
During a daily briefing in Beijing, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian voiced concerns over the latest U.S. tariff threat, following the 10% duties imposed on Chinese goods on February 4. Jian highlighted the adverse impact on bilateral drug control cooperation and dialogue.
Meanwhile, Mexican Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard characterized a meeting with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer as a productive and cordial exchange. Ebrard expressed optimism about the future collaboration between the U.S. and Mexico without divulging specifics on talks related to the tariff deadline.
President Trump restated the upcoming deadline for imposing tariffs on over $900 billion worth of annual imports from Canada and Mexico on Tuesday, citing inadequate progress in reducing fentanyl-related deaths in the U.S.
In Mexico, a significant extradition of suspected drug cartel members, including Rafael Caro Quintero, took place, with Quintero pleading not guilty to U.S. drug trafficking charges that could carry capital punishment. Mexico’s Deputy Economy Minister Vidal Llerenas hinted at potential trade measures beyond recent tariffs to combat illicit drug shipments from China.
Furthermore, discussions in the U.S. included the suspension of the duty-free exemption for low-value packages to enhance screening for fentanyl and its precursor chemicals entering U.S. ports and airports.
While these efforts were underway, attention was diverted to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s visit to the White House, resulting in a heated exchange between the two leaders over the Russia-Ukraine conflict and Zelenskiy’s decision not to sign a U.S. minerals agreement.
As China approaches its annual parliamentary meetings next week, Trump’s recent tariff announcement has raised tensions, with Beijing facing a tight deadline to implement countermeasures. This move signals a more assertive stance towards China, despite earlier tariff threats being scaled back upon Trump assuming office on January 20.
A White House official revealed ongoing discussions with China, Mexico, and Canada, acknowledging progress on some fronts while expressing remaining concerns on unresolved issues.
According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a total of 72,776 individuals in the United States lost their lives due to synthetic opioids in the year 2023, with fentanyl being the primary cause of these fatalities. This information was reported by David Lawder, with additional reporting provided by Brendan O’Boyle from Mexico City and David Ljunggren from Ottawa. The article was edited by Paul Simao and Nick Zieminski.
