Peter Navarro Defends Tariff Measure, Says Trump ‘Fighting a Drug War’

Contact Your Elected Officials
The Epoch Times Header

Navarro said the ‘de minimis’ rule allowed China to exploit a loophole to smuggle fentanyl and other drugs into the United States.

WASHINGTON—Peter Navarro, White House senior counselor for trade and manufacturing, defended the Trump administration’s use of tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China to curb the flow of fentanyl into the United States.

“The president is fighting a drug war. This is not a trade war,” Navarro said on Tuesday during a Politico Playbook event.

He stated that because of tariffs, the administration has seen a quick response in terms of collaboration from both Mexico and Canada.

On Feb. 1, President Donald Trump signed an executive order imposing a 25 percent tariff on all non-energy imports from Canada and a 10 percent tariff on energy imports, effective from Feb. 4. In separate executive orders, the president imposed a 25 percent tariff on all imports from Mexico and an additional 10 percent tariff on all imports from China.

On Feb. 3, Trump said he would pause tariffs on Canada and Mexico for a month after reaching an agreement with both countries to address the border crisis.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced that she has agreed to send 10,000 soldiers to the U.S.–Mexico border to help combat the influx of fentanyl and illegal immigrants.

Following a phone call with Trump the same day, Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau announced that the Canadian government would implement a $1.3 billion border plan. He has also committed to appointing a new fentanyl czar and launching a Canada–U.S. joint strike force to combat organized crime, fentanyl, and money laundering.

The 10 percent tariff on Chinese goods remains in place. Trump said earlier that he would discuss the matter with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

Navarro said that Trump’s trade team is “going through a checklist” of measures, making sure to track the progress.

The Mexican drug cartels are rapidly expanding in Canada, Navarro said, highlighting the growing threat to the United States.

He also pointed out that the de minimis rule exempts from tariffs all goods worth $800 or less that cross U.S. borders.

“What the cartels in China have done is to exploit that loophole to smuggle in not just fentanyl but all sorts of drugs,” Navarro said.

By Emel Akan

Read Full Article on TheEpochTimes.com

The Epoch Times
The Epoch Timeshttps://www.theepochtimes.com/
Tired of biased news? The Epoch Times is truthful, factual news that other media outlets don't report. No spin. No agenda. Just honest journalism like it used to be.

Made in America is Coming Back!

Trump's tariffs and the reshoring of companies into the US, are making America rich and creating hundreds of thousands of jobs for Americans.  

Deranged Democrat Rep. Jasmine Crockett Lacks Decorum

Texas Democrat House Representative Jasmine Crockett went too far in recent speaking engagement and she should be forced to resign from Congress.

The Usual Suspects’ Knives Out MAHA Following Federal mRNA Contract Cuts

Earlier this week, the RFK Jr.-led FDA announced the...

Corrupted Medical Societies Push SSRIs For Pregnant Women in Defiance of FDA

A recent expert panel organized by the FDA cast doubt on the safety of SSRIs — even though these drugs are largely considered safe by healthcare providers.

The “Trump Bridge” Could Lead To Russia’s Expulsion From The South Caucasus

If agreed to, and the report remains unconfirmed for now, the “Trump Bridge” could lead to Russia’s expulsion from the South Caucasus.

Texas AG Files Suit With State Supreme Court to Declare Seats of 13 Absent Democrats Vacant

Texas AG Paxton filed lawsuit with state Supreme Court asking court to declare the House seats of 13 Texas Democrats vacant due to “unlawful absences.”

Trump Admin Wants $1 Billion Settlement With UCLA

Trump upped ante in negotiations with UCLA, eyeing a 10-digit settlement with school following a DOJ investigation into campus anti-Semitism.

ICE Arrests More Violent Criminals, Faces 1,000 Percent Spike in Assaults

ICE recently arrested several criminal illegal immigrants who have been convicted of drug trafficking, sex crimes, and violent assaults, DHS said.

DOJ Moves to Unseal Exhibits From Epstein, Maxwell Grand Jury Investigations

The DOJ asked a federal court to unseal grand jury exhibits from the investigations into sex traffickers Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.

US Treasury Sanctions Members of Mexican Cartel ‘Los Zetas,’ Including Rapper El Makabelico

Treasury Dept imposed sanctions against high-ranking members and an associate of the Mexican Cartel del Noreste, (Los Zetas) based in Mexico.

Trump Removes IRS Commissioner Billy Long

President Trump is replacing Billy Long as commissioner of the IRS less than two months after his confirmation, a WH official confirmed.

Trump-Brokered Armenia–Azerbaijan Peace Deal Secures US Trade Route

Trump will host leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan at the White House to sign a joint declaration ending four decades of hostility between the two nations.

Trump-Brokered Armenia–Azerbaijan Peace Deal Secures US Trade Route

Trump to host leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan at the White House to sign joint declaration ending 4 decades of hostility between the two nations.
spot_img

Related Articles