China has firmly rejected US accusations that it is responsible for the fentanyl crisis, stating that the issue lies squarely within the United States. The response came after Washington imposed punitive tariffs on Chinese goods, citing Beijing’s alleged failure to curb the flow of fentanyl into the country.
Speaking at a regular press briefing on Tuesday, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian called the tariffs unreasonable and reaffirmed Beijing’s long-standing position that fentanyl abuse is a problem the US must solve internally.
“The responsibility for tackling the fentanyl issue lies with the United States itself,” Lin said when asked whether fentanyl would be addressed in future trade negotiations. China has repeatedly made its stance clear on this matter.
The comments follow renewed trade talks between the world’s two largest economies, which took place in Switzerland over the weekend. Both sides agreed to significantly reduce tariffs on various goods as part of efforts to ease ongoing tensions. However, the US maintained a 20% tariff on select Chinese imports, insisting that Beijing has not taken sufficient action to help stem the opioid epidemic.
Despite efforts to improve trade relations, the fentanyl issue remains a sticking point. Washington has long accused China of being a key source of precursor chemicals used in the production of fentanyl — a synthetic opioid blamed for tens of thousands of overdose deaths annually in the United States.
Beijing, however, contends that it has already taken robust regulatory measures and believes further progress depends on US efforts to address demand and enforcement within its own borders.
As trade discussions continue, the clash over fentanyl threatens to complicate an already delicate diplomatic balancing act between the two powers.
Melissa Enoch
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