President Donald Trump issued an executive order Friday refining his administration’s strategy to choke the flow of illicit drugs across the U.S.-Canada border, adjusting tariff rules to balance enforcement with trade efficiency.
The order, titled “Amendment to Duties to Address the Flow of Illicit Drugs Across Our Northern Border,” modifies prior directives from February, tweaking duty-free exemptions to bolster revenue collection while maintaining pressure on drug trafficking networks.
Citing powers under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, the National Emergencies Act, and the Trade Act of 1974, Trump revised Section 2(h) of Executive Order 14193—originally signed February 1 and amended February 3—to refine the handling of “covered articles” like goods linked to drug flows.
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The updated clause keeps duty-free de minimis treatment under 19 U.S.C. 1321 for eligible items, but with a catch: that perk ends once the Commerce Department, led by Secretary Howard Lutnick, certifies systems are ready to “fully and expeditiously process and collect tariff revenue” on those goods. The shift aims to plug loopholes exploited by traffickers while easing burdens on legitimate trade until enforcement ramps up.
“This order tightens our grip on the northern border,” a White House official told reporters anonymously, framing it as part of Trump’s broader drug interdiction push. Since taking office, Trump has leaned on tariffs and military deployments—like the 3,000 troops sent to the southern border this week—to curb illegal crossings and drug smuggling.
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The northern focus, less spotlighted than Mexico, targets rising fentanyl and meth flows from Canada, often via small packages exploiting de minimis rules capping duty-free imports at $800 per shipment.
The original February 1 order slapped duties on suspect goods to fund border security and deter trafficking, with the February 3 tweak refining scope. Friday’s amendment ensures duty-free treatment persists only until Commerce can handle the tariff load—balancing revenue goals with trade flow. Critics, including some Democrats, warn it could snarl cross-border commerce with Canada, a top U.S. trade partner, but Trump’s team insists it’s a precision strike. “We’re not punishing legitimate business; we’re targeting the cartels,” the official added.
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The order aligns with Trump’s emergency powers flex, dovetailing with his southern border troop surge and signaling a dual-front war on drugs. It leaves implementation to Commerce, with no firm timeline set—Lutnick must notify Trump when systems are ready. General provisions clarify it won’t override existing agency powers or budget roles, nor create enforceable rights, dodging legal blowback.
As fentanyl overdoses soar—killing over 70,000 Americans yearly, per CDC data—the northern border’s role has drawn scrutiny, with CBP reporting a 50% spike in seizures there since 2022.
Trump’s latest move, layered onto February’s framework, doubles down on tariffs as a weapon, though its success hinges on Commerce’s pace. For now, the White House sees it as another brick in the wall against illicit drugs, with Canada’s border towns bracing for the fallout.
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