WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump has justified tariffs on Canadian imports in part as a way to force Canada to crack down on smuggling and tighten security at the vast border. The neighbor to the north, he said, must “stop this invasion of our country” with “drugs and illegal aliens.”

Canadian and Chinese officials say they were already helping reduce fentanyl smuggling. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said fentanyl crossing the northern border is "near zero."

Democratic Senators grilled President Trump’s ambassador nominees for Canada and Mexico during the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations hearing Thursday over the administration’s new