U.S. Lawmakers and Officials Push for Stronger Measures Against China's Role in Fentanyl Crisis

Bipartisan bills and calls for sustained progress highlight efforts to disrupt fentanyl trafficking and hold China accountable for precursor chemical flows.

• A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers has introduced three bills targeting China's role in the fentanyl crisis, aiming to disrupt trafficking networks and impose sanctions on Chinese entities.
• The proposed legislation includes the CCP Fentanyl Sanctions Act, which would penalize Chinese companies and entities that facilitate the shipment of synthetic narcotics to the U.S.
• China remains the primary source of chemical precursors used by Mexican cartels to produce fentanyl, a synthetic opioid contributing to tens of thousands of American deaths annually.
• White House drug-control policy director Rahul Gupta emphasized the importance of maintaining progress made under the Biden administration, citing China's recent steps to restrict precursor chemicals and shut down related websites.
• President-elect Donald Trump has proposed additional tariffs on Chinese goods to increase pressure, while lawmakers stress the need for a coordinated approach to address the crisis effectively.

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The Globe and Mail