White House economic advisor Kevin Hassett said on Sunday that he hopes the U.S. and Canada can resolve their dispute over fentanyl, a deadly opioid, by the end of March.
His comments, reported by Reuters, suggest that President Donald Trump might delay reimposing tariffs on Canada, which are set to take effect at the end of the month.
Hassett explained on ABC News’s This Week that Trump’s tariffs are not about trade but are instead aimed at stopping drug smuggling across the U.S.-Canada border.
Hassett said, “This is a drug war, not a trade war. We’re working to solve this issue by the end of the month.” However, Reuters notes that Canada is actually responsible for only a tiny amount of drug smuggling into the U.S., and it’s unclear what progress Hassett is referring to.
Later in the interview, Hassett confused matters by mentioning America’s “trade war,” which seemed to contradict his earlier statement. Democratic Senator Adam Schiff, who also appeared on ABC, called Hassett’s comments “hard to understand.”
This report, based on information from Reuters, highlights the ongoing tension between the U.S. and Canada over fentanyl and tariffs, while also showing the mixed messages coming from the Trump administration.
The situation remains unclear, but Hassett’s comments suggest a possible delay in tariffs if progress is made on the fentanyl issue.
Credit: Reuters