Overview: Trump's decision to impose a 10% tariff on Chinese imports, citing fentanyl concerns, has led to China announcing WTO legal action and countermeasures. These tariffs, in effect since February 4, are part of wider trade actions that also entail imposing 25% duties on Canadian and Mexican goods.
Significance: The fentanyl crisis in the US is dire, with approximately 200 deaths daily due to the epidemic, claiming the lives of nearly 75,000 Americans from synthetic opioids in 2023. Despite China being a major source of fentanyl precursors, experts question whether tariffs will effectively combat the drug crisis.