National emergency: Trump, drugs and tariffs in the US crisis!

National emergency: Trump, drugs and tariffs in the US crisis!

On May 30, 2025, the United States will be at the center of a legal dispute over customs policy affecting both New York and Washington. The central question under discussion is whether the United States is in a state of national emergency, particularly with regard to drugs and imported goods. This litigation highlights the president's authority over trade and economic policy and draws parallels to migration policy, which uses emergency laws from 1798 to deport migrants. This is all reflected in current political debates and could have far-reaching implications as public opinion and the legal environment influence the president's options.

The lack of clarity over the national emergency comes at a time when other countries, particularly in Europe, are also struggling with drug problems. According to a UN report, the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany are the main cocaine import hubs in Western Europe. The North Sea ports in these countries, such as Antwerp, Rotterdam and Hamburg, now exceed the traditional import destinations in Spain and Portugal. These developments raise concerns, particularly in the context of the rise in coca cultivation, which has increased by 35% after a pandemic-related decline, with the area under cultivation in South America now exceeding 300,000 hectares.

Problems of cocaine trafficking in Europe

The UNODC (UN Office on Drugs and Crime) has highlighted worrying advances in the chemical processing of coca into cocaine, which have contributed to a significant increase in production capacity. Demand for cocaine has increased in many regions of the world over the last decade, leading to an increase in drug trafficking via the North Sea route. Smugglers of Albanian origin in particular began buying cocaine directly in South America about ten years ago and shipping it to Belgium and the Netherlands.

The amount of cocaine seized in various European ports illustrates the extent of the problem. In 2021, 89.5 tons of cocaine were seized in Antwerp and 70.6 tons in Rotterdam. While drug discoveries only increased slightly in Antwerp and Rotterdam, there was a sharp increase in the quantities of drugs seized in Hamburg and Bremen. Hamburg recorded a record amount of 19 tons of cocaine in the same year. However, in a contrasting trend, drug discoveries in Hamburg provisionally fell to six tonnes in 2022.

The complex situation in both the USA and Europe highlights the far-reaching challenges in the fight against drug trafficking and crime. The legal disputes and the ongoing drug crisis could have long-term effects on the politics and society of both regions. The world will be watching closely to see how these developments continue to unfold.