What is the fentanyl problem that US hopes China can help it curb?

The US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, has embarked on his much-anticipated visit to Beijing to "responsibly manage the relationship between our two countries through open channels of communication." Blinken is expected to discuss various topics, including the production of the deadly synthetic opioid fentanyl, cooperation beyond several contentious issues such as the Russian war on Ukraine, trade wars, surveillance disputes, and the Taiwan issue.

The talks aim to address the Chinese manufacture of precursor chemicals used in fentanyl production, which has been blamed for contributing to the opioid crisis.

The fentanyl issue

• The United States is seeking China's help in curbing the production of precursor chemicals that are used to manufacture fentanyl, a drug responsible for more than two-thirds of the American overdose deaths in the past two years.
• American law enforcement agencies have accused Chinese companies of shipping these precursor chemicals to Mexico, where cartels manufacture and distribute the drug to the US.
• According to National Safety Council, in 2021, the number of preventable deaths caused by fentanyl-related opioids reached 67,325, showing a significant increase of 26% compared to the total of 53,480 deaths in 2020.

• Carfentanil, the strongest among the fentanyl is believed to be approximately 10,000 times more powerful than morphine, says the CDC data.

Background

• In the past, China had halted talks on the synthetic opioid issue following then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's controversial visit to Taiwan.

• Chinese trade officials argue that fentanyl precursors are just ordinary chemicals sold through regular trade channels, highlighting the US demand for opioid drugs.

US actions

• US lawmakers have introduced bills requiring China to clearly label shipments of precursors and cooperate with the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
• There was also a bill introduced to improve port inspection policies by the Customs and Border Patrol.

• Additionally, the Fentanyl Results Act was passed, expanding the purview of 'major drug', requiring the State Department to collaborate with Mexican, Chinese, and other foreign law enforcement agencies to detect synthetic drugs.

Calls for accountability

• Florida Senator Marco Rubio, a Republican, sent a letter to Secretary Blinken urging China to be held accountable for its role in the opioid epidemic. He expressed concerns about China prioritizing its geostrategic goals over counternarcotics cooperation.
• In response to alleged sales of chemical ingredients to the Sinaloa cartel, the US Justice Department imposed sanctions on two Chinese companies.

• The Treasury Department also announced sanctions against entities and individuals in China and Mexico.
• What looks to be a pressure tactic and shifting the responsibility onto China and the US, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador had also put pressure on China to curb exports of both fentanyl precursors and the drug itself. However, he said that Mexico neither produces nor consumes the drug.

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Although the Chinese cooperation may depend on various factors, including the issue of Covid-19 origins, there have been signs of progress. Last week, China and the US reportedly resumed talks on drug control cooperation, with representatives exchanging views on cooperation between drug regulatory agencies.