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Former U.S. President Donald Trump has put high taxes (tariffs) on Chinese products because he says China has not stopped chemicals used to make fentanyl from being exported.
The U.S. believes Chinese companies knowingly sell these chemicals to drug producers. In response, China has placed its own tariffs on U.S. goods.
The White House has also blamed Canada and Mexico for not stopping fentanyl smuggling into the U.S. Trump had planned tariffs on both but paused them after they agreed to tighten border security.
The Fentanyl Crisis in the U.S.
Fentanyl is a man-made drug first approved in the 1960s as a painkiller but is now the leading cause of opioid overdose deaths in the U.S. In 2023, more than 74,000 Americans died after taking drugs mixed with fentanyl, according to the CDC. Many users do not know fentanyl is in their drugs. A tiny amount (as small as a pencil tip) can be deadly.
Over the past ten years, the global fentanyl trade has grown, making it harder for governments to stop it. China is the main supplier of the chemicals used to produce fentanyl.
Who Makes Fentanyl?
Fentanyl is made legally by pharmaceutical companies in the U.S., Belgium, China, and India for medical purposes. Illicit fentanyl is mostly produced in Mexico using chemicals from China and India. While it is a critical painkiller in medicine, it is also responsible for a major drug crisis due to illegal production and abuse.
The drug is very powerful and requires tiny doses. Even inhaling miniscule amounts of fentanyl powder into the nose or lungs can lead to symptoms of overdose.
Most Fentanyl Enters The US Through Mexico
Since September, U.S. border officials have seized 4,500 pounds (2,040 kg) of fentanyl. Almost all (98%) was found at the U.S.-Mexico border, while less than 1% was seized at the Canadian border.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) says Mexican cartels, including the Sinaloa Cartel, produce fentanyl using chemicals from China. The drugs are then smuggled into the U.S. Cartels hide shipments by disguising them as legal products or using fake businesses.
Trump’s administration accused Mexico of working with drug cartels, but Mexico’s President Sheinbaum denied it. In December, after Trump threatened tariffs, Mexico made its largest fentanyl seizure—enough for 20 million doses.
China’s Role in the Fentanyl Trade
In 2019, China made fentanyl a controlled substance and later added some fentanyl-related chemicals to its banned list. However, criminals still find ways to work around the laws.
U.S. investigations have shown that some Chinese companies sell chemicals knowing they will be used to make fentanyl. These companies communicate with buyers through encrypted messages and accept cryptocurrency payments.
China says it has some of the world’s strictest drug laws and has worked with the U.S. to stop illegal drug trade in the past. However, U.S. officials say China needs to do more.
India is also becoming a key supplier of fentanyl-making chemicals. In January 2025, two Indian chemical companies were charged with selling fentanyl-related chemicals to the U.S. and Mexico.
Canada’s Role in the Fentanyl Trade
Trump has also blamed Canada for allowing fentanyl and illegal immigrants into the U.S. However, U.S. border data shows that only 0.2% of fentanyl seizures happen at the Canadian border—almost all come from Mexico.
Even so, Canada’s financial agency says Canadian criminal groups are importing fentanyl ingredients and lab equipment from China.
Fentanyl moves in both directions between the U.S. and Canada. In early 2024, Canada seized 10.8 pounds (4.9 kg) of fentanyl coming from the U.S., while U.S. authorities found 32.1 pounds (14.6 kg) coming from Canada.
In December, Canada promised C$1.3 billion ($900 million) to fight fentanyl and strengthen its borders.
The US has a massive problem with fentanyl addiction, but what about the rest of the world?
United Kingdom:
The UK has seen a sharp rise in opioid-related deaths over the years. Since 1993, deaths from opiate poisoning in England and Wales have increased by 388%.
While fentanyl abuse is not as severe as in the U.S., it is a growing concern. In 2021, fentanyl was mentioned in 58 death certificates in England and Wales. Authorities have also found heroin mixed with fentanyl, causing sudden spikes in overdose deaths.
English-Speaking Caribbean:
There is little data on fentanyl addiction in the English-speaking Caribbean, but the region is vulnerable because it lies along drug trafficking routes.
The Caribbean is potentially a transit point for drugs like cocaine heading to North America and Europe, as the conviction of former BVI Premier Andrew Fahie shows. While marijuana and cocaine have been more common, fentanyl could enter the market.
In Puerto Rico, a Caribbean island that is also a U.S. territory, there have already been reports of fentanyl-related overdoses and deaths.
The English-speaking Caribbean has not yet faced a fentanyl crisis, but its role in drug trafficking makes it at risk for future problems.
Sources: BBC, OpenAI.
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