President-elect Donald Trump has pledged to impose steep tariffs on China, Canada, and Mexico to address illegal immigration and fentanyl trafficking. Trump plans to add a 10 percent tariff on goods from China, on top of existing tariffs, and a 25 percent tariff on products from Canada and Mexico. He highlights China’s failure to curb fentanyl flow and accuses Canada and Mexico of not addressing illegal immigration effectively.
In social media posts on Nov. 25, Trump announced his intention to sign executive orders imposing these tariffs shortly after taking office. He emphasized the negative impact of illegal immigration and drug issues on U.S. communities. Fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid, contributes to approximately 100,000 deaths annually in the U.S., with a significant portion originating from sources south of the border.
Trump has engaged Chinese officials in discussions about drug trafficking, particularly fentanyl, into the U.S. Despite promises from China to take action, Trump believes they have not done enough. He plans to implement a 10 percent tariff on Chinese products until significant progress is made in reducing drug flows. Additionally, Trump has previously expressed intentions to revoke China’s most-favored-nation trading status and impose high tariffs on Chinese goods.
While the focus on illegal immigration has primarily been on the southern border, there has been an increase in unlawful crossings from Canada in recent years. Border Patrol data shows a rise in apprehensions along the northern border. Billionaire investor Bill Ackman suggests that Trump’s tariff announcement aims to push neighboring countries to address drug and immigration issues proactively.
Trump’s nominee for Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, supports using tariffs as leverage for achieving foreign policy objectives. Bessent believes tariffs can be instrumental in various areas, including defense spending, market access, immigration control, and countering military threats. Please rewrite this sentence.
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