States Can Follow President Trump’s Lead to Stop Fentanyl
President Trump’s first weeks in office have been defined by an unprecedented whirlwind of action. He’s moving so fast to complete his campaign promises that many people in Washington are having a hard time keeping up. One of the most important pledges that the President is already fulfilling is getting tough on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to stop the flow of fentanyl into American communities.
As the Protecting America Initiative has identified, China has been the primary source of the fentanyl and fentanyl ingredients that have fueled a deadly crisis in the United States. Fentanyl is a true national emergency. Deaths from overdoses of the drug topped 112,000 in 2023. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), “China remains the primary source of fentanyl and fentanyl-related substances.”
Recognizing this threat, President Trump jumped into action shortly after taking office and declared that “the flow of contraband drugs like fentanyl to the United States through illicit distribution networks has created a national emergency.” Under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), the President levied a new 10% tariff on products from China until the CCP addresses the massive influx of drugs being trafficked into America.
The president’s actions will save lives and should be lauded. But fentanyl is a problem that impacts every segment of our society and must be a priority at every level of government. Rather than solely relying on a federal response, states also have an opportunity to make headway in stopping traffickers, cracking down on drug ingredients, flexing their economic muscle, and protecting American lives.
States can reinforce President Trump’s actions with legislation of their own that will help fight the war against fentanyl and decouple America from the CCP. The Protecting America Initiative has already outlined and promoted many of these policies, including:
Increasing criminal punishments for fentanyl trafficking.
Creating statutory penalties for aiding impermissible aliens who are trafficking drugs.
Establishing state task forces focused on the interdiction of fentanyl from China.
Cracking down on fentanyl’s entry into states by regulating Chinese chemical shipments.
Enacting protections for U.S. companies competing against unfair Chinese trade rules.
Promoting the acquisition of American-made products in state purchases to limit the CCP’s operations in the U.S.
These are just a few examples of how states can fight against fentanyl by stopping drugs at the source through law enforcement and using economic power to slow China’s influence. While states do not have direct authority over international trade, these steps will bolster the efforts that President Trump has initiated.
Trump’s swift response will save lives and should serve as a call to action for state legislatures and governors across the country. The Protecting America Initiative was proud to partner with President Trump on the campaign trail to safeguard America’s agricultural base. We will continue to help states take leadership in the comprehensive fight against Chinese fentanyl.