China takes action on key US fentanyl demands

BEIJING – China has taken a series of counter-narcotic actions in the past week, in a sign of cooperation with US demands for stronger action on the synthetic opioid fentanyl, a key irritant in the bilateral relationship.

US President Donald Trump imposed 20 per cent tariffs on Chinese imports in February over Beijing’s alleged failure to curb the flow of precursor chemicals for fentanyl, which has caused nearly 450,000 US overdose deaths. Those tariffs have remained in effect despite a fragile trade truce reached in Geneva in May.

Beijing has defended its drug control record and accused Washington of using fentanyl to “blackmail” China. Both sides were in a stalemate over the issue for months, despite China sending its vice-public security minister to the Geneva talks.

China has balked at some of Washington’s demands, which include publicising the crackdown on precursors on the front page of the Communist Party mouthpiece People’s Daily, educating Party members and tightening regulation of specific chemicals, among other actions.

On June 26, China’s State Security Ministry accused a “certain country” of “deliberately launching unwarranted attacks on China over the fentanyl issue”, in a veiled swipe at the US.

But on June 20, Beijing added two precursors to a list of controlled chemicals, according to a government statement.

The chemicals – 4-piperidone and 1-boc-4-piperidone – were “considered fundamental to resolving the fentanyl issue”, raising hopes that the 20 per cent tariffs could be eventually lifted, according to a source familiar with US government thinking.

The move came after US ambassador David Perdue had a rare meeting with China’s Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong on June 19 in Beijing, during which Mr Wang expressed willingness to work with Washington on drug control, according to a Chinese statement.

China’s Foreign Ministry said the action on precursors