One of the great benefits of tariffs that I suspect (but don't have figures for to back this up), isn't the fentanyl from Canada (we account for only 0.1% of the fentanyl going into the States, Mexico accounts for the rest)
but due to the fact that Tariffs pretty much shut down mail in packages with drugs hidden inside, as well as the import of shipping containers. That helped BOTH our countries. I will explain.
Because tariffs dampened international trade- and caused border officers to scrutinize the contents (for tariff related purposes in the States) the drug traffic can't rely on industrial volumes going into the borders.
Volumes of cargo are down, inspection rates are UP!!! On BOTH sides of the border.
Even at the post office.
Because even smaller packages like those from eBay or Amazon are being looked at by the tariff people- this is creating a massive roadblock to drug entry. Its the stuff covered by the de Minimus act formerly. I suspect that is why Trump tariffed the small packages formerly covered by the de Minimus act.
I get flack sometimes for not being pro tariff- and I'm not. For sound economic reasons that Ronald Reagan explains best.
But I am honestly delighted with this aspect!
As a result of the American demands to improve our border security, we have caught a LOT more undesirables trying to cross into Canada from the States via land borders (criminals & illegal migrants) and from all over the world at our airports. We have a long way to go, but it's better than it was before Trump.
Less drugs, guns and criminal garbage coming in, easier to police what is already here.
It literally FORCED our govt to finally put money and boots on the ground, on our borders to deal with the problem we are experiencing here, and that is entirely due to the pressure Trump put on Trudeau when he first took office. Packages and cargo from China is particularly bad, but thanks to improved policing we are catching more of the problem.
Thank you Trump! Seriously, THANK YOU!
Here is the report from this September showing the volumes going into (and out of) Canada in case you think I'm making all this up. Using the US CBP numbers.
Canada’s Fentanyl Czar - Privy Council Office - Canada.ca
2 excerpts:
"
Most drug and weapons trafficking flows north, into Canada
While Canada continues to closely monitor and increase efforts to disrupt outbound trafficking, the primary flow of illicit drugs and illegal firearms moves north, from the U.S. into Canada.
The vast majority of firearms used in crimes in Canada originate in the U.S., while international criminal networks continue to contribute to violence and drug-related harms in Canadian communities.
Ensuring strong and secure borders on both sides is not just a matter of enforcement, but a public safety imperative. Effective coordination between Canadian and U.S. authorities is essential to stopping the flow of lethal drugs and deadly weapons before they reach our streets.
Continued vigilance, intelligence sharing, and joint enforcement will be critical in protecting communities on both sides of the border.
Canada is not a major source of fentanyl entering the U.S.
Contrary to speculation, U.S. Customs and Border Protection data consistently shows that seizures at the U.S.-Mexico border far outpace those at the northern border by a wide margin.
In fact, from 2022 to 2025 (YTD), almost 71,000 lbs of fentanyl have been seized at the U.S. Southern Border, while only approximately 134 lbs were seized in Northern Border areas.
About one tenth of one percent of fentanyl seizures are attributed to the Northern U.S. Border.
These volumes are far less than the flow of illegal narcotics into Canada from the U.S. While the volume of fentanyl entering the United States from Canada remains relatively small, both countries recognize there is room for deeper coordination and joint action."
end quote.
While the fentanyl problem in the States is largely Mexican, this enabled us to finally crack down on the guns, drugs and gang members coming north creating problems up here and like you, we are seeing a major drop in drug deaths overall.
I can live with that!
So can a lot of other people.
