China has issued a stern warning to the United States, threatening “countermeasures” after US President Donald Trump announced plans to impose new tariffs on Chinese goods in response to the ongoing fentanyl crisis, Al Jazeera reports.
Trump announced on Thursday his intention to levy an additional 10 percent duty on Chinese imports, on top of an existing 10 percent tariff implemented earlier this month. This action is reportedly motivated by what Trump described as “very high and unacceptable levels” of fentanyl entering the United States. He also stated that the previously proposed 25 percent tariffs on Mexican and Canadian goods would proceed on March 4.
In a swift response, China’s Ministry of Commerce vehemently refuted Trump’s claims on Friday, stating that Chinese laws on drugs are among the most stringent globally and accusing Washington of “shifting the blame and shirking responsibility.”
“China urges the US not to repeat its mistakes and to return to the correct path of resolving disputes through equal dialogue as soon as possible,” a ministry spokesperson said in a statement. “If the US insists on proceeding with this course of action, China will take all necessary countermeasures to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests.”
The spokesperson emphasized China’s stance on unilateral tariffs:
“We have repeatedly stated that unilateral tariffs violate World Trade Organization rules and undermine the multilateral trading system.”
The escalating tensions come as the US grapples with a devastating opioid crisis. According to the Centers for Disease Control, over 74,000 people died from synthetic opioid overdoses in the US in 2023.
The US Drug Enforcement Administration has identified China as the primary source of precursor chemicals used to manufacture fentanyl, which is then trafficked by Mexican cartels.
However, Beijing maintains that it has been actively working with the US to address the fentanyl supply, including adding fentanyl-related substances to its list of controlled drugs and engaging in “extensive, practical cooperation in the field of drug control.”
