Trump Admin Twists China’s Arm On Fentanyl

The Chinese government says it will tighten controls on key chemicals used to produce fentanyl, a move seen as a concession to the Trump administration amid ongoing trade tensions between the two countries, The New York Times reported Wednesday.

Six Chinese government agencies announced this week that two precursor chemicals for the deadly synthetic opioid will be subject to stricter regulation starting on July 20, according to the NYT. The decision followed a meeting in Beijing between the Chinese public security minister and U.S. Ambassador David Perdue to discuss efforts to combat the trafficking of opioids, which claimed the lives of over 76,000 Americans in 2023.

Addressing fentanyl trafficking was a key factor behind President Donald Trump’s first round of tariffs in February, which targeted multiple countries, including China. The Trump administration has long accused the People’s Republic of China (PRC) of turning a blind eye as Chinese producers funnel fentanyl ingredients to drug cartels, which then smuggle the substance across the southern border.

“Everyone who has been paying attention knows that China has been involved in the production of fentanyl precursors. Time and time again, Beijing has avoided taking necessary action to curb the supply. They could stop it if they want to, but have refused,” a senior State Department official told the Daily Caller News Foundation. “Unlike the previous administration, this President will pursue every action to stop fentanyl from flowing into our communities.”

Beijing has consistently denied the allegations, even as it now moves to impose tighter restrictions.

“We’ve repeatedly made it clear that fentanyl is the United States’ problem, not China’s,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said on Tuesday, according to the NYT. “It’s the United States’ responsibility to solve the issue.”

Since taking office, the Trump administration has rolled out unilateral efforts to combat fentanyl trafficking, affecting many Chinese businesses in the process.

As part of  Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariff package, the administration closed the de minimis loophole, which allowed packages valued under $800 to enter the U.S. duty-free and with little to no customs scrutiny. Many Chinese e-commerce companies — such as Temu —  relied heavily on this exemption and have been hit hard by the change.

“President Trump is targeting deceptive shipping practices by Chinese-based shippers, many of whom hide illicit substances, including synthetic opioids, in low-value packages to exploit the de minimis exemption,” the administration said.

Some national security experts remain skeptical that China’s new pledge will lead to meaningful change.

“The most immediate thing that addresses fentanyl trafficking are the measures Trump has taken at the border and cutting down on the direct mailing of merchandise into the U.S., but I’m not really optimistic that the [Chinese Communist Party] is going to do anything significant,” Sam Faddis, a retired CIA officer and national security analyst, told the DCNF. “Pledges by them are meaningless unless you see concrete action. If they wanted to shut off the flow of precursor chemicals, they could do it overnight, so the idea that they’re going to offer bits and pieces and half measures tells you all that you have to know.”

China’s move to regulate precursor chemicals marks another conciliatory gesture following the Trump administration’s imposition of tariffs to address what the administration sees as unfair trade practices. During a recent meeting in London, U.S. representatives maintained a 55% tariff on Chinese imports, while China agreed to lower its tariffs on U.S. goods to 10% and pledged to ease export controls on rare earth elements.