China, in his words · 2024 campaign · № 101

On China

Announces an additional 10% tariff on China over fentanyl

“Representatives of China told me that they would institute their maximum penalty, that of death, for any drug dealers caught doing this but, unfortunately, they never followed through, and drugs are pouring into our Country, mostly through Mexico, at levels never seen before. Until such time as they stop, we will be charging China an additional 10% Tariff, above any additional Tariffs, on all of their many products coming into the United States of America.”
Said
, Post on Truth Social (@realDonaldTrump)
Subject
fentanyl tariff
Threat
Economic threat
Topic
Trade & tariffs
Era
2024 campaign

What the record showed

In early 2025 he imposed fentanyl-related tariffs on Chinese goods that totaled 20% by the time of the May 12, 2025 truce, which left them in place. After meeting Xi Jinping on Oct. 30, 2025, he cut them to 10%, effective Nov. 10, 2025, and the White House said China would stop shipments of certain designated chemicals to North America. On Feb. 20, 2026, the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in Learning Resources v. Trump that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, the law used for those tariffs, does not authorize the president to impose tariffs.

Sources

  1. Donald J. Trump: "I have had many talks with China about the massive amounts of drugs, in part... Trump's Truth (Truth Social archive), Nov 25, 2024
  2. U.S. and China announce deal to temporarily cut tariffs NPR, May 12, 2025
  3. Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Strikes Deal on Economic and Trade Relations with China The White House, Nov 1, 2025
  4. Supreme Court strikes down tariffs SCOTUSblog, Feb 20, 2026