The tension between the United States and Canada has escalated over the smuggling of "fentanyl," a manufactured opioid used for pain relief, which has been responsible for rising death rates in both countries. Washington has accused Canada of being a major transit point for "fentanyl" into U.S. territory, threatening to take strict economic measures that include maintaining tariffs on Canadian products if Ottawa does not take serious steps to stop the smuggling.

According to official data, "fentanyl" accounted for about 70% of overdose deaths in Canada in 2023, while it caused the deaths of around 70,000 people in the United States in 2022, making it one of the leading causes of death in North America.

In this context, the U.S. Secretary of Commerce stated that his country would not tolerate this crisis, emphasizing that Canada is required to take stricter measures to monitor borders and track smuggling networks. For its part, the Canadian government confirmed that it is cooperating with Washington on this sensitive issue but rejected the direct accusations, considering that the crisis requires a joint effort to address the root causes of the problem, including the production of this substance in China and its smuggling through Mexico.

The U.S. escalation comes amid increasing internal pressures on the American administration due to the worsening opioid crisis, as the issue of "fentanyl" poses a public health threat and presents political and economic challenges with the presidential elections approaching. Meanwhile, Canada seeks to maintain stable trade relations with the United States, which may prompt it to take concrete steps to contain the tension and prevent potential economic repercussions.