(The Lion) — If America’s three largest trading partners don’t secure their borders, President-elect Donald Trump says he will impose tariffs on them as soon as he takes office in January.

In posts on Truth Social, Trump took aim at the avalanche of illegal drugs from China and illegal immigrants pouring into the U.S. from the borders with Mexico and Canada.

“Both Mexico and Canada have the absolute right and power to easily solve this long simmering problem,” Trump said. “We hereby demand that they use this power, and until such time that they do, it is time for them to pay a very big price.”

Trump promised to enact an executive order on his first day in office imposing tariffs of 25% on anything imported to the U.S. from Canada and Mexico until the countries “stop this invasion” of the U.S.

Trump also called out China as the world’s largest manufacturer of fentanyl chemicals for reneging on a promise to prosecute the Chinese drug lords responsible for exporting the illegal drug components from the far-eastern communist state.

Citing previous talks with China, Trump said, “Representatives of China told me that they would institute their maximum penalty, that of death, for any drug dealers caught [exporting fentanyl] but, unfortunately, they never followed through, and drugs are pouring into our Country.”

Both Republicans and Democrats have blamed China of being the main cause of the fentanyl crisis.

Trump said he would impose a 10% tariff on Chinese goods until the fentanyl problem is solved.

In October, Biden’s Department of Justice unsealed indictments against eight China-based chemical companies and eight of their employees for selling “precursor chemicals” used to make fentanyl.

China responded to the Trump tariff threats previously by saying it would impose its own tariffs on the U.S.

“History has shown that raising tariffs on Chinese goods cannot resolve the tariff-imposing country’s trade deficit. Instead, it leads to higher prices for imported products and inflation, with the burden ultimately falling on consumers,” said China’s government-run Xinhua News.

The Associated Press (AP) said it was unclear how the tariffs on the three countries could be enacted under an executive order but noted that trade agreements in the cases of Mexico and Canada have clauses for tariffs due to national security.

China, Mexico and Canada are the three largest trade partners with the U.S., accounting for $1.4 trillion of $3.2 trillion in total worldwide imports as of 2022, according to the Office of the United States Trade Representative.

In September, Mexico took first place as top-exporter to the U.S. thanks to its key role in the American automotive industry.

It’s an honor that Mexico likely won’t want to lose because the trade agreement negotiated by Trump in 2020 helped Mexico attain that top ranking.

“Mexico is the United States’ top trade partner, and the [U.S. Mexico trade agreement] provides a framework of certainty for national and international investors,” said Mexico’s finance minister, according to Reuters.

Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum was a little more combative, said Reuters.

Sheinbaum “is a stern leftist ideologue trained in radical student protest movements,” and likely won’t have a warm relationship with Trump, reported the AP.

But one market economist warned that Mexico has a lot to lose in any trade war over fentanyl or the border.

Capital Economics economist Giulia Bellicoso told Reuters the “downside risks are especially high for Mexico, since the country is particularly vulnerable to Trump’s proposed policies.”

The U.S. accounts for 83% of Mexico’s exports, so Sheinbaum probably has no choice but to negotiate.

Her later comments indicate she likely knows that.

“Dialogue is the best path to achieve understanding, peace and prosperity for our two countries,” Sheinbaum said, according to the AP. “I hope our teams can meet soon.”

The AP reports that Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau subsequently spoke about trade and the border. A Canadian official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the talks between the two leaders were positive.