The Presidents of Mexico and Canada both made last-minute deals to avoid 25% tariffs on trade with the United States, which were imposed by the White House.
China did not make a deal so 10% tariffs will be imposed beginning today. China says that they oppose this and “will take necessary countermeasures to defend its legitimate rights and interests.”
The White House threatened these tariffs to get these countries to take responsibility for “halting illegal immigration and stopping poisonous fentanyl and other drugs from flowing into our country.”
Mexico promised to send 10,000 troops to the Southern Border to prevent migrants from crossing North. In exchange, the U.S. promised to work “to prevent the trafficking of high-powered weapons to Mexico,” according to Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo.
Canada staved off the tariff by promising to implement a 1.3 billion border plan. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says that Canada will commit to “reinforcing the border with new choppers, technology and personnel, enhanced coordination with our American partners, and increased resources to stop the flow of fentanyl. Nearly 10,000 frontline personnel are and will be working on protecting the border. In addition, Canada is making new commitments to appoint a Fentanyl Czar, we will list cartels as terrorists, ensure 24/7 eyes on the border, launch a Canada- U.S. Joint Strike Force to combat organized crime, fentanyl and money laundering. I have also signed a new intelligence directive on organized crime and fentanyl and we will be backing it with $200 million. Proposed tariffs will be paused for at least 30 days while we work together.”
Those are hefty promises but will they really stop the powerful and dangerous drug trade or will bad people find a way? It’s better than what we had to stop the drug and human traffic, which was nothing, but what will happen to the drug economy now?
Another partner has shown up to deter drug and human traffickers: Salvadorian President Nayib Bukele says that his country is willing to “take in only convicted criminals (including convicted U.S. citizens) into our mega-prison (CECOT) in exchange for a fee. The fee would be relatively low for the U.S. but significant for us, making our entire prison system sustainable.” The images are pretty scary. Could this work? And are the people of El Salvador okay with hosting the worst of the worst?
