The United States enforced substantial tariffs on Canada on a Friday, as negotiations for a trade deal failed to meet a deadline set by U.S. President Donald Trump. The White House issued a fact sheet indicating that Canada’s alleged inability to combat the opioid crisis contributed significantly to the decision to impose a 35 percent tariff on certain Canadian goods.

CANADA’S DRUG ENFORCEMENT 'FAILURE'

The White House's fact sheet criticized Canada for its "failure" to effectively address drug trafficking and coordination with U.S. law enforcement. In response to Trump's concerns regarding the flow of fentanyl into the U.S., Canadian officials pledged $1.3 billion in December to enhance border security and strengthen immigration enforcement. Furthermore, a fentanyl czar, Kevin Brosseau, was appointed in February to oversee the response to the crisis.

Since making this commitment, the Canadian government has announced significant investment in combating illicit drug production and trafficking, including an additional $200 million aimed at dismantling organized crime networks. Enhanced border surveillance and staffing measures have resulted in the installation of 15 surveillance towers and other detection tools at points of entry. Moreover, Canada has deployed advanced technology such as drones, four Black Hawk helicopters, and specialized aircraft for aerial surveillance, utilizing infrared and heat-seeking capabilities.

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) emphasized the importance of collaboration between Canada and the U.S., stating that both nations rely on mutual information sharing to mitigate threats. The CBSA noted that their joint endeavors include officer exchanges at targeting centers and regular intelligence sharing, alongside dedicated liaison officers positioned at the Canadian embassy in Washington, D.C.

Operation Blizzard, led by the CBSA in February and March, resulted in over 2,600 seizures of suspected narcotics, including 1.73 kilograms of fentanyl, with 1.44 kilograms destined for the United States. It is noteworthy that only 17.5 percent of total drug seizures were intended for the U.S., while 67.5 percent originated from the southern border. From January 1 to April 30 of the current year, Canadian authorities seized 2.14 kilograms of fentanyl headed for the U.S., compared to 28 grams entering Canada from the U.S. Since 2018, law enforcement agencies in Canada have dismantled 47 fentanyl laboratories, according to data from Brosseau's office.

SEIZURES AT THE NORTHERN BORDER

The White House fact sheet also indicated that fentanyl seizures at the northern border have exceeded the totals from the last three fiscal years combined. According to data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, a total of 33.6 kilograms of fentanyl has been seized at the northern border in fiscal year 2025, which concludes on September 30. While this represents a notable increase compared to the combined total of 26.8 kilograms in fiscal years 2022, 2023, and 2024, it remains dwarfed by the approximately 3,992 kilograms of fentanyl seized at the southwestern U.S. border within the same timeframe. Thus, seizures at the northern border account for a mere 0.8 percent of total fentanyl confiscations this fiscal year.

DRUG POTENCY

The White House further stated that the volume of fentanyl seized at the Canadian border could potentially result in over 16 million American fatalities, given the drug's lethality. Estimates from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration suggest that around two milligrams of fentanyl can be lethal. While the amount of fentanyl seized at the Canadian border might theoretically be lethal to 16 million individuals, actual opioid overdose deaths in the U.S. number in the thousands, not millions. Provisional data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates a downward trend in synthetic opioid deaths, with 46,651 recorded fatalities over the twelve months leading to January 2025, compared to 72,718 in the previous year.

This information highlights the complex dynamics between the U.S. and Canada regarding the ongoing opioid crisis and the measures both governments are undertaking to address it.