Trump says he expects to lower fentanyl-linked tariffs on China

US President Donald Trump gestures as he walks from Marine One to board Air Force One to depart Haneda Airport for South Korea, in Tokyo, Japan, October 29, 2025. - REUTERS
AIR FORCE ONE: President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he expects to reduce U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods in exchange for Beijing's commitment to curb exports of fentanyl precursor chemicals.
AI Brief
- Trump imposed tariffs on Chinese goods due to fentanyl-related chemical exports.
- Trade talks failed to resolve the issue, with no action from China on traffickers.
- China denies wrongdoing and accuses the US of using fentanyl as political leverage.
Those tariffs have remained in effect despite a fragile trade truce reached by both sides in subsequent talks, as the two superpowers did not make progress on the issue in the absence of decisive action targeting traffickers by China.
For its part, Beijing has always strongly defended its chemical control record and accused Washington of using fentanyl to "blackmail" China.
However, China softened its tone on the fentanyl debate ahead of a meeting between both countries' presidents, expressing sympathy instead of reiterating its usual characterisation of the issue as being an American problem.
"China sympathises with the American people over the fentanyl crisis, and has offered help and provided assistance, which have achieved positive results," Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun told reporters at a regular briefing.
Guo said China remains open to continuing such cooperation with the United States but urged "practical actions" by Washington for bilateral cooperation.
China's envoy to the U.S., Xie Feng, said last month that fentanyl and illegal immigration could become "highlights and growth points" for both countries' cooperation after months of defending Beijing's existing policies on drugs and criticising related U.S. tariffs.
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