By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice
President-elect Donald Trump has put Canada and Mexico on notice — close their borders with the United States or face the penalty of tariffs on all imports into the United States.
Crime and drugs “at levels never seen before” are pouring through porous borders to the north and south of the United States, Trump wrote in a Truth Social post Monday.
As one of his “many first Executive Orders,” Trump pledged to charge Canada and Mexico 25% tariffs.
“This tariff will remain in effect until such time as drugs, in particular fentanyl, and all illegal aliens stop this invasion of our country!,” Trump wrote. “Both Mexico and Canada have the absolute right and power to easily solve this long simmering problem.”
Until they do, Trump wrote, “it is time for them to pay a very big price!”
In Colorado, fentanyl is such a concern that an independently funded film “DEVASTATED” was created. In 2014, the CDC reported 5,544 fentanyl deaths nationally. Eight years later, the CDC reported 73,838 deaths as a result of fentanyl use.
In another Truth Social post, Trump also announced a tariff on China, where much of the fentanyl in the United States is said to be derived.
“I have had many talks with China about the massive amounts of drugs, in particular Fentanyl, being sent into the United States – but, to no avail,” Trump wrote. “Representatives of China told me that they would institute their maximum penalty, that of death, for any drug dealers caught doing this, but, unfortunately, they never followed through.”
China will be charged a 10% tariff, Trump said, “until such time as they stop” above any additional tariffs.
“Drugs are pouring into our country, mostly through Mexico, at levels never seen before,” he said.