China has warned of countermeasures in response to President Trump’s announcement of a new 10% tariff on Chinese goods, which he justified due to rising fentanyl import levels. The Chinese Ministry of Commerce condemned this move, asserting that China has strict drug laws and accused the U.S. of evading responsibility for the opioid crisis. China has reiterated its willingness to cooperate on drug control efforts while opposing unilateral tariffs.
Following President Donald Trump’s announcement of a new 10% tariff on Chinese imports, China has responded with a warning of potential countermeasures. The tariffs are part of the U.S. response to the smuggling of fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid that has significantly impacted public health in the United States. On Truth Social, President Trump justified the tariffs by citing the “very high and unacceptable levels” of fentanyl entering the country from China.
In its rebuttal, China’s Ministry of Commerce criticized Washington for what it perceives as a blame-shifting tactic regarding the opioid crisis. The Ministry asserted that China has stringent drug laws and urged the United States to engage in constructive dialogue to resolve disputes. The statement emphasized that the United States should avoid repeating past errors that complicate international relations.
The Ministry further warned that should the U.S. continue on its current path of imposing tariffs, China would take all necessary measures to protect its interests. It also reiterated that unilateral tariffs violate the principles of the World Trade Organization and disrupt the global trading framework. The situation is exacerbated by alarming statistics from the Centers for Disease Control, indicating that over 74,000 lives were lost to synthetic opioid overdoses in 2023 alone.
According to reports from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the precursor chemicals necessary for the production of fentanyl largely originate from China, which has made efforts to control this issue. Beijing claims to have collaborated with U.S. authorities to restrict the supply of fentanyl and has taken steps such as classifying fentanyl-related substances as controlled drugs. Significant practical cooperation in drug enforcement has also been reported between the two nations.
In summary, China’s response to the newly announced tariffs by the U.S. highlights the ongoing tensions in trade relations, particularly concerning the opioid crisis. While the U.S. cites health concerns as justification for tariffs, China defends its stringent drug regulations and stresses the importance of dialogue. The situation underscores the complexity of international trade laws and mutual responsibilities in addressing public health issues.
Original Source: www.aljazeera.com
