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

Early this year Trump imposed 20% tariffs on Chinese imports over what he described as Beijing's failure to curb the flow of precursor chemicals used in the production of fentanyl, which has caused nearly 450,000 U.S. overdose deaths.

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.