[Trending News] Fentanil: Everything you need to know about the drug that is the source of the trade war between the US and China

China, whose products will have a supplementary rate of 10%, is accused of passivity against trafficking of fentanyl components, which, according to US authorities, caused more than 70,000 overdose deaths in the United States.

What is Fentanil?

Fentanil is a synthetic opium 50 times more potent than heroin is much easier and cheaper to produce. It is the main cause of death among Americans aged 18 to 45 years.

The US Drug Control Department (DEA, Drug Encarcement Administration) says China is “the largest source of fentanyl smuggled chemicals for the United States.”

In 2019, China reinforced controls, reducing direct traffic to the United States.

However, according to the US Congress Investigation Service, chemical components are sent to Mexico, where they are transformed into Fentanil and taken to the United States.

Fentanil chemicals are mostly cool in China, where they are used as painkillers. China says there is no “illegal fentanyl trafficking” from its territory to Mexico and promises to strengthen controls.

What measures did the United States take?

Joe Biden's government, Trump's predecessor, strengthened the fight against Fentanil. In October, he sanctioned dozens of entities and individuals based in China, accusing them of being “suppliers” of US traffickers, online sellers and Mexican cartels.

The group, formed by companies located in Wuhan, other parts of mainland China and Hong Kong, is accused of having sent to Mexico and the United States about 900 kg of fentanil and chemical precursors, seized by the authorities.

“Fentanil world trade that causes the death of Americans usually begins in Chinese chemical factories,” said Merrick Garland, as a US Attorney General.

What agreements do China and USA signed?

In November 2023, in San Francisco, in the west of the United States, Presidents Joe Biden and Xi Jinping promised to resume discussions on the subject.

In mid -2024, China announced greater control over three major fentanil components. But experts say drug traffickers adapt quickly, creating new variants of chemicals.

China is not being rigid enough with the companies involved in this trade, says Vanda Felbab-Brown of the American Ideas Laboratory Brookings Institution.

“We are far from real accusations or concrete processes for money laundering or sending substances to Mexican cartels,” he said.

Is the increase in tariffs effective?

Trump is determined to adopt a hard line against China, but there is no guarantee that tariff increases will have the desired effect. May even be counterproductive.

“China is expanding its cooperation in law enforcement and combating drug trafficking with countries with which it has good relations,” Felbab-Brown said.

However, “countries with which it maintains bad relationships or weakening, refuses any cooperation,” he added.

There is also the problem of money laundering.

“International cartels are increasingly resorting to Chinese groups specializing in quick, cheap and insurance money laundering services,” said researcher Zongyuan Zoe Liu in a report published in September by the American group Council on Foreign Relations.

“Getting Beijing's support to stop the illicit flow of Fentanil and its chemicals is a crucial first step in containing the offer” of trafficking, he emphasizes.