Trump Believes China Will Sentence Fentanyl Traffickers To Death, Calls 20% Tariffs On Beijing 'Penalty'

Last Updated:July 17, 2025, 07:05 IST

Trump said that the 20% tariffs imposed on China are a penalty to make up for the losses incurred by the US due to the alleged trafficking of the fentanyl drug.

US President Donald Trump (AP)

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday (local time) said that the US is set to work out a deal with China where Beijing would give the death penalty to those who transport the fentanyl drug into the United States.

Highlighting the imposition of tariffs, Trump said that the 20% tariffs imposed on China are a penalty to make up for the losses incurred by the US due to the alleged trafficking of the drug.

“I have a very good relationship with President Xi of China, but I imposed a 20 percent tariff on China because of the fentanyl. And I call it a penalty. It’s a penalty because China delivers much of the fentanyl. They deliver it into Mexico and even into our own country," he said.

Trump signed the legislation to amend the Controlled Substances Act regarding the scheduling of fentanyl-related substances.

“We have a 20 percent (tariff), so they pay billions of dollars and billions of dollars in damages for what they’ve done," Trump said, adding, “And I think we’re going to work it out so that China is going to end up going from that to giving the death penalty to the people that create this fentanyl and send it into our country, whether it’s through other countries or directly."

The Halt All Lethal Trafficking of Fentanyl Act represents a key priority for President Trump, who has claimed the illicit flow of fentanyl is one of the underlying reasons for his tariff threats against Canada, Mexico and China.

The bill places all fentanyl-related substances, specifically, copycat versions of the drug, on the US Drug Enforcement Administration’s list of most dangerous drugs, classifying them as Schedule I under the Controlled Substances Act.

(With agency inputs)

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News world Trump Believes China Will Sentence Fentanyl Traffickers To Death, Calls 20% Tariffs On Beijing 'Penalty'