China Imposes export Licenses on Key Fentanyl Precursors to US, Mexico, and Canada
BEIJING – China’s ministry of Commerce, in a joint announcement with multiple government agencies, has implemented a new licensing requirement for the export of certain chemicals used in the production of fentanyl to the United States, Mexico, and Canada, effective immediately. The move, reported by state news agency Xinhua, comes amid ongoing pressure from Washington regarding the flow of precursor chemicals fueling the opioid crisis in the US and follows recent high-level talks between the two countries.
The new regulations require exporters to obtain a license to ship the specified chemicals, signaling a strengthened commitment from Beijing to curb the illicit trade. This action builds upon pledges made earlier this year to halt the flow of materials used to manufacture the synthetic opioid, a promise that lead to a partial rollback of tariffs imposed by the Trump administration.
The licensing requirement follows a visit to Beijing last week by FBI Director Kash Patel,who discussed fentanyl and law enforcement cooperation with Chinese officials. While neither the US nor China officially announced Patel’s trip, it underscores the urgency of addressing the fentanyl supply chain.
Washington has long accused Beijing of insufficient action to prevent the export of these chemicals. Former President Trump initially imposed a 20 percent tariff on certain Chinese products in response to their alleged role in the fentanyl supply chain,later reducing it to 10 percent following discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Trump stated after those talks that xi pledged to “work very hard to stop the flow” of fentanyl, the leading cause of overdose deaths in the United States.
Alongside the new export controls, the united States Trade Representative (USTR) announced a one-year suspension of its examination into China’s maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding sectors, effective this Monday. In a reciprocal gesture, China has suspended port taxes applied to ships linked to the United States for one year.
