China Launches Fentanyl Crackdown Amid Tariff Pressure from US
This week, China Launches Fentanyl Crackdown Tariff Pressure from US, which seems to be a response to the growing pressure from the U.S. over the trafficking of synthetic opioids. Both countries are having a hard time dealing with rising tensions over trade and drug enforcement, so this move comes at a bad time. The U.S. put 20% tariffs on China in February because the country wasn’t doing enough to stop the export of fentanyl precursors.
Strained Relations and a Mounting Death Toll
The U.S. says that China is to blame for letting chemicals used to make fentanyl, a drug that has killed almost 450,000 Americans from overdoses. Washington put tariffs in place to get people to act. The tariffs are still in place even though there was a tentative trade deal in May. Beijing keeps defending its record on drug control and says that Washington is making the issue political.
China Launches Fentanyl Crackdown Chemical Bans and Diplomatic Movement
China said last week that it would put new limits on two chemicals: 1-boc-4-piperidone and 4-piperidone. These are important parts of making fentanyl. The new rules will be in effect on July 20. Sources in the U.S. say the move is a sign of goodwill that could lead to lower tariffs.
The announcement came after a rare meeting in Beijing between Wang Xiaohong, China’s Minister of Public Security, and David Perdue, the U.S. Ambassador. Chinese officials said they were willing to work together, but they also made it clear that the crackdown is in line with international agreements.
Tougher Action at Home
Chinese law enforcement is also stepping up action within the country. So far this year, border agents have seized 2.4 tons of illegal drugs and arrested 262 suspects. Between January and May, courts prosecuted over 1,300 people for drug-related money laundering. Authorities arrested more than 700 others, marking a 2.1% rise from last year.
This week, a Chinese court sentenced Liu Yuejin, a former top narcotics official, to a suspended death sentence for bribery. He accepted over $17 million in illegal payments between 1992 and 2020. The sentence sends a strong message about the government’s seriousness in fighting drug crimes.
Political Weight of the Fentanyl Issue
Chinese academics agree that the crackdown was caused by political pressure. Liu Weidong of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences says that the U.S. sees China’s fentanyl problem as a sign of poor government. This point of view makes it harder for countries to get along.
China’s most recent actions show that it is trying to change the story and ease trade tensions. But a lack of trust between the two sides is still getting in the way of progress.
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