China has announced new export controls on three precursor chemicals, restricting their shipment to Canada, Mexico, and the United States. The move, disclosed on Friday, comes just a week after a summit between US and Chinese leaders in Beijing.
The National Narcotics Control Commission also issued warnings about eight other chemicals that could be used in synthetic drug production, demanding strict compliance from businesses involved in their trade. These measures mirror Beijing's anti-narcotics curbs from November, which followed a meeting between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping in South Korea.
During those earlier talks, the US agreed to reduce tariffs on China in exchange for Beijing's crackdown on illicit fentanyl. Washington had frequently accused Beijing of failing to control fentanyl precursor flows, leading Trump to impose related tariffs in early 2025, later struck down by the US Supreme Court in February. China has consistently dismissed these accusations, arguing the opioid crisis is a domestic US problem.
Despite tensions, Chinese and US anti-narcotics authorities recently collaborated, arresting five suspects and seizing drugs in a joint investigation into a smuggling and trafficking case this month, according to state media.
