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How does fentanyl get into the US?

August 1, 2025

President Donald Trump has increased tariffs on Canadian imports while maintaining existing tariffs on Mexico and China, citing their alleged failure to stop fentanyl trafficking into the United States. Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid originally approved for medical use in the 1960s, has become the primary drug responsible for over 48,000 American overdose deaths in 2024 according to the CDC. The global fentanyl supply chain involves Chinese corporations supplying chemicals to criminal organizations, with Mexican cartels producing the finished product and smuggling it across the southern border.

Who is affected

  • American citizens (over 48,000 died from fentanyl-containing drug mixtures in 2024)
  • Canadian exporters (facing new tariffs)
  • Mexican exporters (under threat of higher tariffs)
  • Chinese exporters (continuing to face tariffs)
  • Drug users (often unaware they are consuming fentanyl)
  • Criminal organizations in Mexico, Canada, and China

What action is being taken

  • President Trump is implementing tariffs on Canadian imports and maintaining existing tariffs on Mexico and China
  • Mexico is deploying 10,000 national guard troops along the US-Mexico border through Operation Northern Border
  • Canada has pledged C$1.3 billion for combating fentanyl and enhancing border security
  • Canada has appointed Kevin Brosseau as its "fentanyl czar"
  • U.S. Customs and Border Patrol is seizing fentanyl at border crossings

Why it matters

  • Fentanyl is the main drug responsible for opioid overdose deaths in the U.S., with over 48,000 deaths in 2024
  • As little as two milligrams of fentanyl (roughly the size of a pencil tip) can be fatal
  • The drug is frequently mixed with other illicit substances, making users unaware of consumption
  • The expanding global fentanyl supply chain makes control increasingly difficult for law enforcement
  • The issue has escalated to affect international trade relations through tariffs and diplomatic tensions

What's next

  • No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC