Biden-Xi Jinping to Announce Agreement on 'China Fentanyl Crackdown'

Bloomberg Reports Citing Sources
"Victory for US White House Ahead of Presidential Election"

U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping are expected to announce an agreement on cracking down on the manufacturing and export of fentanyl by China during their summit on the 15th (local time), Bloomberg News reported on the 14th, citing sources.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (left in the photo) and U.S. President Joe Biden [Image source=AP Yonhap News]

Bloomberg reported that multiple anonymous sources said the agreement will include China tracking chemical companies to prevent the distribution of fentanyl and its precursor substances. In return, the U.S. plans to lift sanctions on the Chinese Ministry of Public Security's forensic laboratory.

The agreement is expected to be announced during the U.S.-China summit scheduled for the 15th, coinciding with the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit held in San Francisco.

Bloomberg evaluated, "This agreement will be a victory for the White House on the fentanyl issue, which is the top concern of voters ahead of next year's presidential election." The Republican Party has criticized the Biden administration for failing to address the fentanyl problem.

Fentanyl is a powerful painkiller but highly addictive, often called the "zombie drug." Overdoses of fentanyl and other synthetic opioids have become a significant social problem in the U.S. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 150 people die daily in the U.S. due to this.

Fentanyl is mainly smuggled into the U.S. through Mexico, and U.S. authorities believe that China is the primary supplier of fentanyl precursors used in this process. Last month, Chuck Schumer, the Senate Majority Leader of the U.S. Democratic Party, visited China to discuss the fentanyl issue with President Xi.

U.S. government officials told Bloomberg that even if China agrees to the deal, it may take some time to assess whether China is actively implementing the measures.