What’s Happening?
According to a Sunday White House press statement, President Trump just signed an amendment to his earlier executive order aimed at cracking down on illicit drugs coming through the northern border. This move tweaks trade rules to make sure tariffs are fully collected on certain imports.
Why It Matters
Trump is taking a hard stance on stopping drugs from coming into the U.S. from Canada. “We are shutting down the flow of deadly drugs. No more loopholes. No more free passes,” he said. The latest amendment adjusts the way duty-free imports are handled, ensuring all applicable tariffs are paid.
What’s Changing?
The key change affects what’s known as “de minimis” treatment—basically, small shipments that normally avoid tariffs. Under this order, those shipments will lose their duty-free status once the Secretary of Commerce confirms the system is ready to process all tariffs efficiently. In other words, no more slipping through the cracks.
What Trump Said
“This is about protecting American families. We can’t allow our border to be a drug pipeline. The old rules let too much slide—we’re fixing it.”
The Bigger Picture
This is the third executive order on the northern border since February. Trump is escalating efforts to curb drug trafficking after reports of increasing fentanyl and other illicit substances coming through Canada. His administration argues that cracking down on trade loopholes is one way to fight the crisis.
What’s Next?
The Commerce Department will now work on setting up systems to make sure tariffs are collected properly. Once that’s done, the loophole officially closes. Trump’s team promises swift action. “We’re not waiting around,” an official said. “This is a priority.”
Bottom Line
Trump is tightening trade policies to combat drug smuggling from Canada. His administration is sending a clear message: the days of looking the other way are over.