Report on the Executive Order Addressing the National Emergency of Synthetic Opioid Influx

Introduction and Rationale

An executive order has been issued to address the national emergency caused by the sustained influx of synthetic opioids into the United States. The order identifies this influx as a primary contributor to a severe public health crisis, citing it as the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18 to 45 and responsible for approximately two hundred deaths per day. This situation places a significant strain on the nation’s healthcare system and social fabric. The order alleges that the People’s Republic of China (PRC) plays a central role in this crisis by subsidizing and incentivizing the export of fentanyl and its precursor chemicals, and by providing safe haven to transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) involved in the illicit drug trade and associated money laundering activities.

Impact on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The crisis and the subsequent executive actions directly intersect with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), highlighting significant challenges to their achievement.

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

The opioid crisis represents a profound failure to meet the targets of SDG 3. The order explicitly details the consequences that undermine this goal:

• Target 3.5 (Substance Abuse): The widespread addiction and overdose deaths, with fentanyl alone attributed to 75,000 deaths annually, demonstrate a critical need to strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse.
• Target 3.d (Health Risks): The strain on the national healthcare system constitutes a failure in strengthening the capacity for early warning, risk reduction, and management of national and global health risks.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

The order outlines activities that directly contravene the principles of SDG 16 by detailing a breakdown in the rule of law and international cooperation on crime.

• Target 16.4 (Illicit Flows): The document describes the flow of illicit drugs and the laundering of revenues by PRC-origin TCOs as a major threat, directly challenging the goal to significantly reduce illicit financial and drug flows.
• Target 16.a (Strengthening Institutions): The order asserts that the PRC has failed to use its extensive domestic law enforcement and surveillance capabilities to curb the export of precursor chemicals and shut down criminal networks, indicating a lack of cooperation in strengthening institutions to combat crime and terrorism.

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth & SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

The economic measures mandated by the order reflect challenges related to both economic policy and international cooperation.

• SDG 8: The imposition of tariffs is presented as a tool to address a threat to the national economy. However, such measures and potential retaliation impact global trade and economic stability, affecting progress toward sustainable economic growth.
• SDG 17: The order states that the unilateral action is a result of the failure of bilateral dialogue to resolve the crisis. This signifies a breakdown in international partnership, which is the cornerstone of SDG 17, and highlights the challenges in achieving global goals without effective cooperation.

Declaration of National Emergency and Imposed Measures

Citing authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and the National Emergencies Act (NEA), the executive order expands the scope of a previously declared national emergency. It determines that the PRC government’s failure to intercept precursor chemical suppliers and money launderers constitutes an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States.

Key Directives

1. Imposition of Tariffs: An additional 10 percent ad valorem rate of duty is to be imposed on all articles that are products of the PRC, effective from 12:01 a.m. eastern time on February 4, 2025.
2. Scope of Duties: These duties are additional to any other applicable charges. The order includes a provision to increase or expand these duties should the PRC retaliate.
3. Implementation Rules:
   • Articles admitted into a United States foreign trade zone must be admitted as “privileged foreign status.”
   • No duty drawback will be available for the duties imposed by this order.
   • Duty-free *de minimis* treatment under 19 U.S.C. 1321 will not be available for the affected articles.

Consultation, Reporting, and Future Actions

Inter-Agency Coordination

The Secretary of Homeland Security is mandated to regularly consult with the Secretary of State, the Attorney General, and other national security officials regarding the situation. These consultations will inform the President of any adequate steps taken by the PRC to alleviate the crisis, which could lead to the removal of the imposed tariffs.

Recommendations and Reporting

The Secretary of Homeland Security, in coordination with other agencies, is authorized to recommend additional actions if the PRC fails to take adequate steps. Furthermore, the order mandates the submission of recurring and final reports to Congress on the national emergency, ensuring legislative oversight of the executive actions taken. The order is to be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.

Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

• The article directly addresses public health by framing the synthetic opioid influx as a “public health crisis” that is “killing approximately two hundred Americans per day” and putting a “severe strain on our healthcare system.” It highlights that “Synthetic opioid overdose is the leading cause of death for people aged 18 to 45 in the United States,” directly connecting the issue to mortality and well-being.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

• The article focuses on combating crime and strengthening justice. It discusses the role of “PRC-origin transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) that launder the revenues from the production, shipment, and sale of illicit synthetic opioids.” The executive order itself is a measure aimed at compelling a foreign government to take action against these criminal networks, addressing issues of illicit flows and organized crime.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

• The article underscores the importance and failure of international cooperation. It states, “Despite multiple attempts to resolve this crisis at its root source through bilateral dialogue, PRC officials have failed to follow through with the decisive actions needed.” The imposition of tariffs is presented as a tool to force this cooperation, linking trade policy to the achievement of security and health goals through international partnership.

What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

1. Target 3.5: Strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcohol.
   • The entire article is centered on the “sustained influx of synthetic opioids” and the resulting “public health crisis caused by opioid use and addiction.” The goal of the executive order is to “end this emergency” by cutting off the supply of these narcotic drugs, which is a fundamental step in preventing substance abuse.
2. Target 3.d: Strengthen the capacity of all countries… for early warning, risk reduction and management of national and global health risks.
   • The article declares the opioid crisis a “national emergency” and an “unusual and extraordinary threat… to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States.” This demonstrates an effort to manage a national health risk that has global origins, aligning with the objective of this target.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

1. Target 16.4: By 2030, significantly reduce illicit financial and arms flows, strengthen the recovery and return of stolen assets and combat all forms of organized crime.
   • The article explicitly mentions the need to “shut down the money laundering TCOs” and stop the “flow of contraband drugs like fentanyl to the United States through illicit distribution networks.” The actions described are aimed directly at combating transnational organized crime and reducing illicit flows.
2. Target 16.a: Strengthen relevant national institutions, including through international cooperation, to build capacity… to combat… crime.
   • The order details a failure of international cooperation, stating the “PRC government” has failed to “arrest, seize, detain, or otherwise intercept chemical precursor suppliers, money launderers, other TCOs.” The order itself is an action to strengthen the U.S. response by empowering national institutions like the Department of Homeland Security and using economic leverage to compel international cooperation in combating this crime.

Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Indicators for SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being)

• Mortality Rate from Drug Overdose: The article provides specific statistics that serve as baseline indicators of the crisis’s severity. These include “killing approximately two hundred Americans per day” and “75,000 deaths per year attributed to fentanyl alone.” A reduction in these numbers would be a direct measure of progress.

Indicators for SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions)

• Volume of Seized Illicit Drugs: The article quantifies the scale of drug trafficking by stating, “more than 500,000 pounds of drugs have been seized at the southern border each of the last 3 fiscal years” and “more than 42,000 pounds of drugs have been seized at the northern border each year on average over the last 3 years.” Changes in the volume of seized drugs can indicate the effectiveness of enforcement actions.
• Interception of Criminals and Precursors: Progress could be measured by the PRC government’s actions to “arrest, seize, detain, or otherwise intercept chemical precursor suppliers, money launderers, other TCOs, criminals at large, and drugs.” An increase in these law enforcement actions by the PRC would be a key indicator of cooperation and success.

Indicators for SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals)

• Cooperative Actions and Tariff Removal: The article establishes a clear indicator for successful partnership. Progress is defined by the PRC government taking “adequate steps to alleviate the opioid crisis through cooperative actions.” The ultimate measure of success mentioned is the President’s “determination of sufficient action to alleviate the crisis,” which would result in the removal of the imposed tariffs.

Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: whitehouse.gov