U.S. Senator Steve Daines Meets Chinese Officials as Trade and Fentanyl Disputes Escalate

Daines's visit to Beijing marks a rare diplomatic engagement, focusing on tariffs and fentanyl smuggling concerns, with potential Trump-Xi talks on the horizon.

• Senator Steve Daines, a Trump ally, is in Beijing for three days of meetings with Chinese officials to discuss trade imbalances and fentanyl smuggling.
• This is the highest-level U.S. diplomatic engagement with China since Donald Trump returned to office in January 2025.
• The U.S. recently imposed 20% tariffs on Chinese goods, prompting China to retaliate with 15% tariffs on U.S. farm products, further straining relations.
• China has defended its efforts to control fentanyl-related exports and criticized U.S. sanctions as unreasonable, while welcoming Daines's visit as a step toward dialogue.
• President Trump has indicated a possible meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, though Beijing has not confirmed any such plans.

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South China Morning Post