Fact Sheets

# Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Amends Duties to Address the Flow of Illicit Drugs Across our Northern Border

The White House
July 31, 2025

ADDRESSING A NATIONAL EMERGENCY: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order increasing the tariff on Canada from 25% to 35%, with the higher tariff set to go into effect on August 1, 2025.

- Shortly after returning to office, President Trump declared a national emergency under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to address, among other things, the public health crisis caused by fentanyl and illicit drugs flowing across the northern border into the United States.
- Canada has failed to cooperate in curbing the ongoing flood of fentanyl and other illicit drugs, and it has retaliated against the United States for the President’s actions to address this unusual and extraordinary threat to the United States.
- In response to Canada’s continued inaction and retaliation, President Trump has found it necessary to increase the tariff on Canada from 25% to 35% to effectively address the existing emergency.
- Goods qualifying for preferential tariff treatment under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) continue to remain not subject to the IEEPA Canada tariffs.
- Goods transshipped to evade the 35% tariff will be subject, instead, to a transshipment tariff of 40%.

COMBATING CANADA’S CONTINUED ROLE IN THE OPIOID CRISIS: Given Canada’s continued failure to arrest traffickers, seize illicit drugs, or coordinate with U.S. law enforcement and Canada’s retaliation against the United States for the President’s actions to address the unusual and extraordinary threat to America, further presidential action is necessary and appropriate to protect American lives and the national security and foreign policy of the United States.

- Mexican cartels are increasingly operating fentanyl- and nitazene-synthesis labs in Canada.
- A recent study highlighted Canada’s heightened domestic production of fentanyl, and its growing footprint within international narcotics distribution.
- Canada-based drug trafficking organizations maintain robust “super labs,” mostly in rural and dense areas in western Canada, some of which can produce 44 to 66 pounds of fentanyl weekly.
- Fentanyl seizures at the northern border this fiscal year, with two months remaining, have surpassed total seizures of the past three years combined, underscoring Canada’s escalating role in this crisis.
- The amount of fentanyl seized at the northern border to date this fiscal year could have killed more than 16 million Americans due to the drug’s potency.
- Canada’s retaliatory trade measures against the United States further complicate bilateral efforts to address this escalating drug crisis.

PUTTING AMERICA FIRST: President Trump is keeping his promise to stop the flood of illegal aliens and drugs into the United States.

- Last November, President Trump promised to “sign all necessary documents to charge Mexico and Canada a 25% Tariff” on their imports “into the United States, and [their] ridiculous Open Borders.”
- In February, President Trump signed Executive Order 14193 to impose an ad valorem duty rate of 25% on imports from Canada in response to the national emergency.
  - President Trump then provided Canada ample opportunity to curb the dangerous cartel activity and influx of lethal drugs flowing into our country.
- In March, the President determined that Canada had failed to adequately address the situation and proceeded with the imposition of the 25% tariff.
- Now, President Trump is taking further action to hold Canada accountable for its continued role in the illicit drug crisis.

## Related

- #### Amendment to Duties to Address the Flow of Illicit Drugs Across Our Northern Border

  Presidential Actions, Executive Orders
  July 31, 2025

- #### Imposing Duties to Address the Flow of Illicit Drugs Across Our Northern Border

  Presidential Actions
  February 1, 2025

- #### Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Proceeds with Tariffs on Imports from Canada and Mexico

  Fact Sheets
  March 3, 2025

- #### Amendment to Duties to Address the Flow of Illicit Drugs Across Our Northern Border

  Presidential Actions
  March 6, 2025

- #### Amendment to Duties to Address the Flow of Illicit Drugs across our Northern Border

  Presidential Actions
  March 2, 2025

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