In doubling down on tariffs targeting Canada, Mexico and China, US President Donald Trump cites a lack of progress on tackling fentanyl, but analysts say the drug crisis is just one of his political goals.
“He needs a legal justification” for his tariffs, said Joshua Meltzer, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution.
And while other trade tools typically require an investigation period, declaring an emergency over drugs also allows him to impose tariffs quickly.
Fentanyl also has “political resonance” for Trump, Meltzer said.
“People, particularly in rural, poorer communities are very ambivalent, if not opposed to trade,” he said.
“Justifying trade restrictions based on something that they do see as a real threat, which is fentanyl, makes perfect sense for a lot of his voters,” he added.
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