Donald Trump has made a hobby horse, threatening Mexico with severe customs duties if the Hispanic country no longer fights against the scourge of fentanyl. Yesterday, more than 400,000 tablets of this powerful drug – initially a painkiller – and six tons of chemical precursors were intercepted and destroyed, announced the Office of the Attorney General of Mexico. Substances are used to produce this synthetic drug responsible for thousands of overdoses in the United States. The operations took place in the state of Jalisco, stronghold of the Nueva Generación cartel.
At the beginning of December, the Mexican authorities had already made a historic seizure of more than a ton of fentanyl, which corresponds to 20,000 doses. Washington therefore welcomed this effort. However, Donald Trump persists and signs, threatening to impose customs duties of 25% on all products from Mexico and Canada upon his arrival at the White House, scheduled for January 20.
“This tax will remain in effect until drugs, especially fentanyl, and all illegal immigrants stop this invasion of our country!” he said.
A crisis on a grand scale
Fentanyl is 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times more potent than cocaine, according to the US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). Its use has caused tens of thousands of overdose deaths in recent years. Donald Trump also accuses China of being at the heart of the global fentanyl network. “ 90% of the production of chemical precursors comes from China »confirmed Michel Gandilhon, an expert on organized crime, The Tribune beginning of December. These chemicals are exported to Mexico, where they are turned into pills by the cartels. One kilogram of fentanyl can generate 500,000 pills sold for $10 each, representing colossal profits.
According to Emmanuel Veron, a specialist in contemporary China, the Chinese triads and the power of Beijing have ambiguous links. Although China has tightened controls following pressure from the United States, reports indicate that it provides subsidies to companies involved in trafficking. Beijing rejects these accusations but promises to intensify its fight against narcotics. For some, this crisis is reminiscent of the Opium War, where the British Empire weakened China in the 19th century by facilitating the importation of drugs. In the United States, the fentanyl epidemic will cost $1.5 trillion in 2020, the equivalent of Canadian GDP.
Mexico and Canada under pressure
To ease tensions – and the risk of tariffs in place – Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has pledged to make the fight against fentanyl a priority. At the beginning of December, he announced the seizure of a ton and a half of pills in the Sinaloa region, with an estimated value of $400 million. Joe Biden thanked Mexico, insisting that these products could have “Costs the lives of 15% of Americans”.
For its part, Canada – also targeted by Donald Trump’s threats – is caught off guard. A recent report revealed an overproduction of fentanyl on their land, fueled by Vancouver-based Chinese triad members. Justin Trudeau met with Donald Trump to try to defuse the situation, proposing to strengthen border security. But Trump stands firm and has even suggested that Canada become the 51st state of the United States if it does not cooperate.
