Canada will designate Mexican cartels as terrorist organizations as part of a border security agreement negotiated with the United States on Monday, drawing criticism from Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a CAD 1.3 billion (US $900 million) border security plan and new joint task force with the United States to combat organized crime, aiming to avoid U.S. tariffs on Canadian exports. The plan includes the terrorist designation for Mexican cartels.

During her Tuesday morning press conference, Sheinbaum expressed disagreement with Trudeau’s announcement. “We don’t believe that the terrorist designation is helpful,” she said. “There are other forms of cooperation and coordination with respect to our sovereignty that would better assist in combating the fentanyl crisis in the United States.”

Mexico has taken its own steps this week to address the U.S. fentanyl crisis, which claimed approximately 107,000 lives in 2023. Peter Navarro, senior trade adviser to U.S. President Donald Trump, praised Mexico’s efforts while noting that Canada needed to increase its involvement.

Trudeau detailed Canada’s new commitments in a post on X, including appointing a Fentanyl Czar, maintaining 24/7 border surveillance, and creating a Canada-U.S. Joint Strike Force to combat organized crime, fentanyl, and money laundering. He also signed a US $200 million intelligence directive focused on organized crime and fentanyl.

The Canadian prime minister’s actions follow Trump’s January 20 Executive Order that designated cartels and other organizations as “Foreign Terrorist Organizations and specially designated global terrorists.”

According to Reuters, Navarro reported that Mexican cartels have been rapidly expanding in Canada, which has become “a leading source of small, duty-free shipments of drugs.” He also emphasized that Canada must address visa issues that have allowed people on the “terrorism watchlist” to enter the United States.

The security measures implemented by both Mexico and Canada have resulted in Trump delaying his proposed tariffs for one month.