Trump tells Trudeau fentanyl crackdown ‘not good enough’ to stave off tariffs

President Donald Trump said Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s efforts to crack down on the flow of fentanyl across the Canada-U.S. border aren’t “good enough” to stave off his 25% tariffs.

Trump made the comment on Truth Social a day after Trudeau called his tariffs “very dumb.” A source told FOX Business that Trudeau was planning on speaking to Trump on Wednesday.

“Justin Trudeau, of Canada, called me to ask what could be done about Tariffs. I told him that many people have died from Fentanyl that came through the Borders of Canada and Mexico, and nothing has convinced me that it has stopped,” Trump wrote. “He said that it’s gotten better, but I said, ‘That’s not good enough.'”

“The call ended in a ‘somewhat’ friendly manner! He was unable to tell me when the Canadian Election is taking place, which made me curious, like, what’s going on here? I then realized he is trying to use this issue to stay in power. Good luck Justin!” Trump added. 

TRUMP’S LATEST TARIFFS: HERE IS WHAT WILL COST CONSUMERS MORE 

“For anyone who is interested, I also told Governor Justin Trudeau of Canada that he largely caused the problems we have with them because of his Weak Border Policies, which allowed tremendous amounts of Fentanyl, and Illegal Aliens, to pour into the United States. These Policies are responsible for the death of many people!” Trump also said.

Trudeau slammed Trump’s tariffs on Tuesday, vowing that Canada “will not back down from a fight.” He announced 25% retaliatory tariffs on American goods.

“I want to speak directly to one specific American. Donald, in the over eight years you and I have worked together, we’ve done big things,” Trudeau said Tuesday during a press conference. “And now we should be working together to ensure even greater prosperity for North Americans in a very uncertain and challenging world. Now, it’s not in my habit to agree with The Wall Street Journal. But Donald, they point out that even though you’re a very smart guy, this is a very dumb thing to do. We — two friends fighting — is exactly what our opponents around the world want to see.”  

Trump said following Trudeau’s remarks that “when he puts a Retaliatory Tariff on the U.S., our Reciprocal Tariff will immediately increase by a like amount!” 

Trudeau added during his press conference that he is “always there” to talk with Trump “about the importance of working together to take on the world at this time.” 

“The facts show very clearly that in terms of taking action on fentanyl, we are doing everything that is necessary. And not just for the United States, for ourselves as well as Canadians are suffering as well from the scourge that is illegal fentanyl,” he also said. 

LUTNICK SAYS TRUMP TARIFF WITH CANADA, MEXICO LIKELY ENDS WITH MEETING IN THE MIDDLE, POSSIBLE DEAL SOON 

Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau looks on during a press conference while responding to President Donald Trump’s 25% tariffs on Canadian imports in Ottawa, Ontario, on Feb. 1. (Reuters/Patrick Doyle / Reuters)

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick signaled a possible agreement between the Trump administration and leaders of Canada and Mexico that could see some of the tariffs imposed on both nations rolled back.  

During a Tuesday appearance on FOX Business’ “Kudlow,” Lutnick told host Larry Kudlow that Trump will likely look to meet America’s neighbors in the middle with a focus on the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which was created to create fairer trade between the nations. 

“He’s really looking carefully at that, trying to figure out if there is a way in there that he can come in the middle, where he can give the Canadians and Mexicans something, but they have to got do more,” he told Kudlow. “They’ve got to end fentanyl death. You can’t just say it’s OK that people can die. That is just not a thing.” 

People browse a grocery store in Toronto on March 4 following the announcement of tariffs on Canadian and Mexican goods by President Donald Trump. (Reuters/Arlyn McAdorey / Reuters)

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“It’s not gonna be a pause. None of that pause stuff. But I think he’s going to figure out, you do more, and I’ll meet you in the middle someway,” he added. “We’re going to probably be announcing that tomorrow. So somewhere in the middle will likely be the outcome — the president moving with the Canadians and Mexicans but not all the way,” he added. 

FOX Business’ Edward Lawrence and Louis Casiano contributed to this report.