A senior official from China is raising questions about how the Trump administration plans to address the chemical precursors used to manufacture fentanyl, especially amid the ongoing trade tensions between the two major economies.
According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, Wang Xiaohong, China’s public security minister, has been in discussions recently regarding what actions the Trump administration intends to take concerning the fentanyl crisis.
Chinese manufacturers are key producers of the precursor chemicals, which significantly contribute to the fentanyl that drug cartels in Mexico traffic into the United States.
On a related note, as Trump marks his 100th day in office, China’s officials have declared they will “never kneel” to external pressures in a charged video statement.
With China being the source of many fentanyl shipments to the US, officials are reportedly pressing the Trump administration on its plans regarding the chemicals supplied from Beijing. (Stock/Fox News)
The reports suggest that Beijing may have had talks with senior Trump officials in a neutral setting.
Trump has been urging China, Mexico, and Canada to take stronger actions against the flow of fentanyl into the U.S.
Trump has pointed out how tariffs are fostering U.S. investment while exerting pressure on China.
China remains the top producer of fentanyl precursors. (Paul Yeung/Bloomberg via Getty Images and Dea)
The White House stated, “China has not taken substantial steps to combat illegal drug producers and the flow of precursor chemicals.” Most governments can manage this through measures such as regulation and law enforcement, a fact that holds true especially in authoritarian states like China.”
Upon taking office, Trump indicated he would enforce a 20% tariff on China related to its role in the fentanyl crisis, which significantly impacts American lives annually.
Download the Fox News app for more updates.
Since then, Trump has raised tariffs on China to 145%, while Beijing has retaliated with a 125% tariff on U.S. goods.
