China and Mexico Clap Back at Trump's Tariff Threats Over Fentanyl 🌐💊
In a bold response to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's tariff threats, China and Mexico have fired back, emphasizing that cooperation—not tariffs—is the key to tackling the U.S.'s concerns over fentanyl and immigration issues. 🌎🤝
Trump announced plans to slap a 25% tariff on all goods entering the U.S. from Canada and Mexico on his first day in office, aiming to pressure the countries to \"solve\" the problem of illegal migrants and drug flows across the borders. He also threatened an additional 10% tariff on Chinese products, accusing China of failing to curb the influx of drugs into the U.S. 🛑💰
Liu Pengyu, spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in the U.S., countered these claims, stating that China has been proactive in combating drug trafficking since an agreement was reached between leaders last year. \"The Chinese side has notified the U.S. side of the progress made in U.S.-related law enforcement operations against narcotics,\" Liu said. \"All these prove that the idea of China knowingly allowing fentanyl precursors to flow into the United States runs completely counter to facts and reality.\" 🇨🇳💪
A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson echoed this sentiment, urging the U.S. to appreciate China's goodwill and to safeguard the positive momentum in China-U.S. cooperation on drug control. The spokesperson highlighted that China is one of the world's toughest countries on counter-narcotics, both in policy and implementation. \"As early as 2019, China officially scheduled all fentanyl-related substances. It is the first country in the world ever to do so,\" they noted. \"China is ready to continue counter-narcotics cooperation with the U.S. on the basis of equality, mutual benefit, and mutual respect.\" 🌐✌️
Meanwhile, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum didn't hold back either. During her morning news conference, she read aloud a letter intended for Trump, emphasizing that threats and tariffs are not the answer to the \"migration phenomenon\" or drug consumption in the U.S. \"What is required instead is cooperation and mutual understanding,\" Sheinbaum asserted. She also warned that Mexico would retaliate with its own taxes on U.S. imports if the tariffs proceed, cautioning that such moves could \"put common enterprises at risk.\" 🇲🇽⚖️
Experts are weighing in as well. Vanda Felbab-Brown, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and global drug policy expert, told the New York Times, \"An imposition of tariffs is not going to do anything regarding the flow of fentanyl.\" She added that such actions might undermine the counter-narcotics cooperation that the U.S. and China have been building. 📚🧐
Looks like Trump's tariff threats are hitting some high notes on the international stage, but not the ones he might have hoped for. It's clear that global challenges like drug trafficking require teamwork, not trade wars. 🌐🤝✨
Reference(s):
China, Mexico refute Trump's fentanyl-related tariff threats
cgtn.com
