The president of the United States, Donald Trump, has justified the imposition of new tariffs on Canada, China and Mexico on the argument that these countries are sending “massive amounts of fentanyl” that, according to him, They have caused the death of “hundreds of thousands of people a year”. However, the data contradict your statement.
During a statement of January 31, the White House Secretary, Karoline Leavitt, was even more alarmist, ensuring that Fentanil has killed “tens of millions of Americans.” But Official figures indicate otherwise: At the worst time of the crisis, the total deaths due to overdose of all drugs, including fentanil, reached a maximum of about 114,000 deaths per year.
Canada and Mexico, in Trump’s sights
Trump has put special focus in Canada and Mexico. “Both Canada and Mexico have allowed an unprecedented invasion of illegal fentanyl”Leavitt said. However, the data show that in 2024 less than 22 kilos of fentanyl from Canada were introduced with smuggling, compared to the more than 9,500 kilos from Mexico.
In addition, before Trump announced the new tariffs, Canada had already implemented measures strict against fentanyl producers in order to contain the crisis. Despite this, the country now faces commercial sanctions by Washington.
Source: Lasexta
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