Beijing is considering using cooperation on the fentanyl trade as potential leverage to restart trade negotiations with the United States, according to reports citing people familiar with the matter. This approach could offer a path away from ongoing tensions between the two countries.
The Trump administration has expressed concerns about China's role in the supply chain that fuels the fentanyl crisis in the U.S. Chinese companies are known producers of the chemical ingredients, or precursors, used to manufacture the drug.
These precursors are often sold online and transported to criminal organizations, particularly in Mexico, who then produce fentanyl and traffic it across the U.S. border.
Wang Xiaohong, identified as Chinese leader Xi Jinping's security czar, has reportedly been inquiring about the specific actions the Trump team wants China to take regarding these precursor chemicals, according to a report from the Wall Street Journal.
In contrast to reports suggesting potential trade openings, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun stated that fentanyl is primarily a U.S. problem and the U.S. alone bears responsibility for addressing it. He criticized U.S. tariffs linked to the fentanyl issue, describing them as bullying and damaging to cooperation efforts. [(Source)](https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/xw/fyrbt/202504/t20250425_11604503.html)
Guo also specifically denied that China and the U.S. are currently engaged in consultations or negotiations regarding tariffs.
U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports include a portion that the Trump administration implemented specifically targeting China's perceived role in the fentanyl crisis. This is in addition to other tariffs aimed at broader trade practices and manufacturing overcapacity.
Sources cited in reports suggest discussions about linking fentanyl cooperation to trade talks remain fluid. China is reportedly seeking a softening of rhetoric and posture from the U.S.
Commentary on this potential linkage notes the existing U.S. tariffs include a segment directly related to the fentanyl issue. [(Source)](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2025-05-02/beijing-weighs-fentanyl-offer-to-begin-trade-talks-wsj-video)
The U.S. view frames the fentanyl issue not just as a trade matter but also as part of a broader drug war impacting American communities.
