US President-elect Donald Trump has recently proposed to impose major tariffs on imports from China, Mexico and Canada. Responding to this proposal on social media platform X (earlier Twitter) Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who is now also a part of the Trump administration has said, “Price of Fentanyl will rise sharply.” Musk’s latest remark adds a layer of economic and social commentary and highlights the potential consequences of the tariff strategy, particularly concerning drug trafficking. Increasing the cost of goods crossing borders, including illicit substances, may reshape supply chains and pricing dynamics in the black market. Trump’s move will be a part of his broader crackdown on illegal immigration and drug trafficking, which has stirred debates on social media. He proposed tariffs of 25% on all products from Mexico and Canada and 10% on goods from China.
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Trump’s proposal on import tariffs
In a statement shared on Truth Social which was later posted on X, Trump said: “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. 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, and drugs are pouring into our Country, mostly through Mexico, at levels never seen before. Until such time as they stop, we will be charging China an additional 10% Tariff, above any additional Tariffs, on all of their many products coming into the United States of America. Thank you for your attention to this matter.”
What is fentanyl and how is it concerning
The United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) states, “Fentanyl is a potent synthetic opioid drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use as an analgesic (pain relief) and anaesthetic. It is 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times more potent than heroin as an analgesic.”
On the streets, fentanyl is often referred to by names such as Apache, China Girl, China Town, Goodfellas, He-Man and Great Bear, among others. Similar to other opioids, fentanyl produces effects such as euphoria, pain relief, sedation, and respiratory depression. However, an overdose can result in severe and life-threatening symptoms, including stupor, pinpoint pupils, clammy skin, coma, and respiratory failure.