President Trump Hits Canada With 35% Tariffs, Citing Lack of Effort in Curbing Fentanyl Crisis

(Substack)—In a bold move to safeguard American lives and economic strength, President Donald Trump has ramped up tariffs on Canadian imports from 25% to 35%, effective Friday, targeting Canada’s lax stance on curbing the deadly flow of fentanyl and other illicit drugs across the border.

This executive order, signed Thursday, underscores the administration’s unwavering commitment to holding foreign nations accountable when they fail to protect U.S. interests, particularly in combating the opioid epidemic that’s ravaging American communities.

On the same day, Trump issued a second executive order to recalibrate reciprocal tariff rates for several countries, tackling massive trade deficits that have long drained American prosperity. These actions build on Trump’s April 2 announcement of a baseline 10% tariff on imports from all nations—escalated for those exploiting U.S. markets with huge surpluses— which went live on April 9.

White House officials hailed the strategy as a “necessary and powerful tool to put America first,” reversing years of lopsided deals that have undermined the nation’s economy and security.

Highlighting successful negotiations that prioritize U.S. gains, the administration secured a powerhouse agreement with the European Union: The EU pledged $750 billion in purchases of American energy and $600 billion in fresh investments by 2028, all while accepting a 15% tariff rate to level the playing field. Similarly, Japan stepped up with a $550 billion investment to revitalize core U.S. industries, wider market access for American exports, and agreement to the same 15% tariff—proving that smart, tough bargaining delivers wins for American workers.

The updated reciprocal tariffs target nations with persistent imbalances, including:

• Syria: 41%
• Myanmar and Laos: 40% each
• Switzerland: 39%
• Serbia and Iraq: 35% each
• Algeria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Libya, and South Africa: 30% each

These measures aim to restore balance and ensure trade partners contribute fairly to America’s economic resurgence.

At the heart of the Canada escalation is the urgent national security threat from fentanyl smuggling, which Trump declared a national emergency on his first day back in office. U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized 74 pounds of the lethal drug at the northern border in fiscal year 2025 alone. Intelligence reveals Mexican cartels operating fentanyl and nitazene labs in Canada, with “super labs” in remote western areas churning out 44 to 66 pounds weekly—fueling addiction and death in American heartlands.

Earlier this month, Trump warned Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in a letter that a 35% tariff would hit starting August 1 if Ottawa didn’t crack down, separate from existing sectoral tariffs on steel, aluminum, autos, forestry, and copper. Evasion attempts could trigger even steeper penalties.

Canada has retaliated with $43 billion in tariffs and threats of more, including Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s call for a 50% hit on U.S. steel and aluminum. Ford stressed standing firm, noting Canada’s leverage in resources like oil, gas, critical minerals, electricity, potash, and uranium, while benefiting from zero tariffs on over 90% of USMCA-compliant exports. Yet, the administration remains focused on defending American borders and families, insisting that true reciprocity means shared responsibility in stopping the drug scourge.