President Biden urged Chinese leader Xi Jinping to take action against Chinese firms involved in the production of fentanyl, a highly potent drug responsible for the deaths of numerous Americans. The United States hoped that curbing China’s illicit fentanyl exports, especially the chemicals used to manufacture the drug, would be a significant outcome of the meeting between Biden and Xi. According to a summary of the meeting published by China’s CCTV News, the two leaders agreed to establish an anti-drug working group.
China has a thriving chemical industry that produces compounds used in various sectors, including pharmaceuticals, fragrances, and textiles. However, some of these compounds can also be combined to create fentanyl, an opioid much stronger than morphine. US officials argue that the Chinese chemical industry plays a crucial role in the American fentanyl crisis by supplying materials to illegal drug labs, particularly in Mexico, which has become the largest fentanyl exporter to the US.
The Chinese government denies its country’s pivotal role and instead blames the United States for fostering a culture of drug use. US officials claim to have intercepted more fentanyl in the past two years than in the previous five combined. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that fentanyl and other synthetic opioids may have caused over 77,000 overdose deaths in the US between May 2022 and April 2023. The problem of fentanyl overdoses is particularly severe in San Francisco, where Biden and Xi met.
Ian Johnson, a senior fellow for China studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, believes that addressing the fentanyl issue would resonate with average Americans more than typical outcomes from international meetings. Republicans have made fentanyl-related deaths a central focus of their campaign against Biden and the Democrats in the 2024 elections. However, given the challenges of regulating an illicit industry, it remains unclear how much an agreement would reduce the flow of fentanyl into the US.
Roselyn Hsueh, an associate professor of political science at Temple University, suggests that an agreement between Biden and Xi could lead to increased oversight and investment in inspection and monitoring by the Chinese central government. However, Beijing has encountered difficulties in the past when attempting to crack down on fentanyl and precursor chemicals.
China used to be the primary source of fentanyl entering the US, but after an agreement with former President Donald Trump in 2019, Chinese companies redirected their operations to Mexico. Today, online sales further complicate enforcement efforts. Regulation and enforcement of fentanyl and precursor chemicals are fragmented among Chinese local governments, industry associations, and firms involved in the chemical trade.
US officials believe that China’s role as a major chemical producer makes its cooperation crucial for effective enforcement. The issue of fentanyl precursors from China has garnered bipartisan support in Congress. Despite the challenges, there is hope that increased coordination between the US and China could improve the situation.