Chinese authorities have historically expressed willingness to assist in curbing the distribution of the strong synthetic narcotic, fentanyl, to the U.S, often as a negotiating chip in wider discussions. China has been identified as a prominent supplier of the chemicals involved in manufacturing fentanyl. During Donald J. Trump’s initial presidency, Beijing sought to earn goodwill from the U.S. leader by prohibiting all forms of this potent synthetic opioid, fentanyl, as part of their strategy to solidify a trade agreement with the U.S.
Currently, as the U.S. and China find themselves locked in a tense trade conflict that has stirred global unease, presenting more measures to impede the influx of fentanyl and associated chemicals could once again be in China’s best interests. Ongoing collaboration on the fentanyl predicament has been a strategy incorporated by China over several years in its overarching relationship with the U.S.
The decision to impose a ban on all types of this drug in 2019 was a reactive measure in response to accusations made by President Trump. He claimed that China was not exerting adequate efforts to halt the drug’s transportation into the U.S. The issue of fentanyl had become intricately woven into a larger trade disagreement, increasingly complicating the situation.
At the time, China consented to taking part in combined law enforcement efforts to restrict fentanyl, in collaboration with the U.S. These action plans were commended by President Trump, who publicly expressed recognition for China’s leader, Xi Jinping, for his ‘benevolent humanitarian deed’.
With the onset of the new Trump administration, China encountered amplified pressure to raise their restrictions on the exportation of chemical precursors that are integral to the production of fentanyl. The distribution of this lethal drug was a justification given by the administration to twice impose an escalated tariff of 10 percent on China, in both February and March.
In addition, the Trump administration took a step in closing a loophole that, according to its claims, permitted the undetected shipment of minor amounts of chemical precursors into the U.S. As Trump has consistently argued that China has unfairly benefited from U.S. trade for several decades, he has also increased duties on the majority of Chinese goods to a minimum level of 145 percent.
The Chinese response has paralleled the U.S. approach, implementing equivalent substantial tariffs and promising to ‘battle uncompromisingly’ against what they perceive as threats from the U.S. This situation depicts the complex interplay between two world powers, where issues of trade, illicit substances, and international relations become deeply intertwined in a tenuous and ever-evolving dynamic.