Trump presses China on fentanyl precursors
The White House has again named China as the world's leading source of the precursor chemicals used to make fentanyl, methamphetamine and other synthetic drugs, in its latest annual list of major drug source and transit countries submitted to Congress. In the accompanying presidential determination, Trump said he had raised the issue directly with Xi Jinping ahead of a planned Washington summit, and credited his own pressure with prompting Beijing to require Chinese companies to obtain export licences before shipping designated precursor chemicals to North America. The designation comes despite a recent joint FBI-Ministry of Public Security push that both governments had described as progress on counternarcotics cooperation, underscoring how fentanyl remains a persistent friction point in the relationship even as the two sides tout enforcement gains.
As it ran
19 September 2026
- Analysts tip a stronger hand for China ahead of Xi-Trump summit in Washington South China Morning Post
17 September 2026
- Trump presses Xi on fentanyl precursors ahead of Washington summit South China Morning Post
- Donald Trump presses China on fentanyl precursors ahead of US summit South China Morning Post