Trump to Prioritize Fentanyl in Xi Meeting, Citing Escalating 157% Tariffs

Washington D.C. – Former President Donald Trump has announced his primary agenda for an upcoming meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea, stating that fentanyl will be the first topic of discussion. Trump emphasized the severity of the opioid crisis fueled by Chinese-sourced drugs, asserting his intention to directly address Beijing's role. "The first question I'm going to be asking him about is fentanyl," Trump stated, according to a tweet from The Post Millennial.

The former president accused China of actively smuggling fentanyl into the United States, reportedly via Venezuela, to circumvent tightened border controls. He highlighted that China is currently subject to a 20% tariff specifically due to the fentanyl crisis, a figure he noted is set to dramatically increase. Trump warned that on November 1st, this tariff will escalate to an "unsustainable" 157%, a move he believes will pressure China into greater cooperation.

This isn't the first time fentanyl has been a key point in U.S.-China relations. In 2019, Beijing agreed to schedule fentanyl and its derivatives as controlled substances following pressure from the Trump administration. However, U.S. officials later noted a shift, with Chinese networks supplying precursor chemicals to Mexican cartels, who then synthesize the finished product for U.S. markets.

Cooperation on counter-narcotics between the two nations has been intermittent, often tied to the broader strategic relationship. A breakthrough in late 2023 saw renewed dialogue and some Chinese action, including scheduling additional precursors and nitazenes. Despite these efforts, challenges remain, particularly regarding robust prosecution of Chinese suppliers and the disparity in legal systems concerning non-scheduled chemicals.

The upcoming meeting in South Korea is set against a backdrop of escalating trade tensions, with fentanyl often serving as a point of leverage. Trump's strong stance and the impending tariff hike underscore the U.S. commitment to curbing the flow of illicit opioids, linking economic policy directly to public health and national security concerns.