What Washington Can Do to Address Fentanyl Flows from China

The flow of fentanyl and its precursors from China is a major driver of the U.S. overdose crisis and a significant challenge in U.S.-Chinese relations. Despite some renewed cooperation, the U.S. has used tariffs to pressure Beijing for more action, leading to retaliatory measures and a subsequent agreement to reduce tariffs in exchange for export restrictions. Experts question the effectiveness of these measures, pointing to the challenge of controlling widely available, non-scheduled chemicals used to produce illicit drugs. China's legal framework also lacks key statutes, like material support clauses, which undermines law enforcement's ability to disrupt the supply chain effectively.