Trump Signs Bill to Strengthen Fentanyl Penalties
Reached Agreement with Xi Jinping on Chinese Regulation During First Term
Agreement Nullified After Administration Change
On July 16 (local time), U.S. President Donald Trump warned that the Chinese government would impose the death penalty on its citizens who distribute the opioid fentanyl to the United States. This is seen as a new pressure tactic to block the influx of Chinese fentanyl and as an intention to restore previous agreements.
At a White House signing ceremony for a bill to strengthen penalties for the so-called "zombie drug" fentanyl, President Trump stated, "Those who manufacture fentanyl in China and send it to our country will receive the death penalty. I think this will happen soon."
He emphasized that China is sending large amounts of fentanyl to the United States via Mexico or other countries, and that he imposed a 20% tariff on China to make the country compensate for the damage fentanyl has caused to the U.S.
He added, "It will not end with China paying tariffs. Ultimately, those who manufacture fentanyl and bring it into the United States will be sentenced to death."
President Trump claimed that during his first term, he reached an agreement with Chinese President Xi Jinping on regulating fentanyl, but that the agreement was nullified after another president took office.
In fact, at a summit with President Xi in December 2018, he demanded that fentanyl be designated as a controlled substance. At that time, China agreed to make fentanyl a regulated substance and to impose the maximum legal penalty on sellers, in order to avoid a full-scale trade war with the United States.
Signing the "Stop Deadly Fentanyl Trafficking" bill, President Trump said, "By signing this bill, we are taking a historic step toward justice for all families facing the fentanyl disaster."
The bill classifies all fentanyl-related analogues as narcotics and significantly strengthens penalties for those who manufacture or distribute these substances.
On the same day, President Trump also indicated that there is a high likelihood that the United States will impose a 25% reciprocal tariff on Japan as scheduled, starting August 1.
During a meeting with the Prime Minister of Bahrain in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C., President Trump responded to reporters' questions by saying, "We are negotiating with them (Japan), but I think we will probably proceed as stated in the letter," suggesting the possibility of the tariffs taking effect.
Additionally, President Trump stated, "We are very close to a trade agreement with India," implying that India could soon join the list of countries?including the United Kingdom, Vietnam, and Indonesia?that have recently reached trade agreements with the United States.
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