U.S. says fentanyl major threat to country, but doesn’t mention Canada

U.S. President Donald Trump has frequently cited 'massive' amounts of fentanyl coming in from Canada as reasoning for his tariffs, but a new report appears to contradict him.

Amid claims by U.S. President Donald Trump of “massive” amounts of fentanyl coming from Canada, the country is notably absent from a report on America’s biggest threats.

The report, released this month, said fentanyl is one of the most lethal drugs trafficked into the U.S. and the cartels that traffic the drug are “largely responsible” for more than 52,000 deaths in the country from synthetic opioids.

It goes on to note that Mexico-based transnational criminal organizations, such as the Sinaloa Cartel, are the dominant producers and suppliers of illicit drugs, while China remains the primary source country for the chemicals to make fentanyl and pill-pressing equipment, followed by India.

The statements, however, appear to contradict Trump’s own statements about fentanyl that he’s used as justification for imposing tariffs on Canada.

Democratic Sen. Martin Heinrich took note and questioned Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard on Tuesday as to why Canada wasn’t included.

“I was surprised, given some of the rhetoric, that there is no mention of Canada in the ATA,” Heinrich said. “The president has stated that the fentanyl coming through Canada is massive, and actually said it was an ‘unusual and extraordinary threat,’ and that was the language that was used to justify putting tariffs on Canada.

“I’m just trying to reconcile those two issues. Is it an ‘unusual and extraordinary threat,’ or is it a minor threat that doesn’t even merit mention in the Annual Threat Assessment?”

Gabbard responded that her focus was on the “most extreme threats in that area,” and the assessment concluded the most extreme threat continued “to come from and through Mexico.”