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U.S.-China dialogue over fentanyl crisis: China potentially offering assistance to combat deadly opioid epidemic in exchange for trade negotiations participation.

Fentanyl trafficking by Chinese enterprises yields devastating losses in North America, prompting speculation of a possible cessation in these activities as part of potential trade negotiations with the U.S.

,   and  ASMedia
4 min read
Illicit fentanyl trade predominantly relies on Chinese companies, leading to catastrophic losses in...
Illicit fentanyl trade predominantly relies on Chinese companies, leading to catastrophic losses in North America. Possible shutdown of such operations could be negotiated in trade talks between China and the U.S.

U.S.-China dialogue over fentanyl crisis: China potentially offering assistance to combat deadly opioid epidemic in exchange for trade negotiations participation.

Fentanyl Crisis: China in the Spotlight

In a potential game-changer, China could offer assistance in tackling the North American fentanyl trade as a means to initiate trade negotiations with the U.S. This move comes amidst the alarming surge of fentanyl-related deaths in the region.

Unnamed sources speaking to The Wall Street Journal have hinted at China proposing cooperation on the fentanyl crisis as a "truce" to engage with the Trump administration. China, being a key player in the North American fentanyl market, holds a unique ability to help curb this deadly epidemic.

According to these sources, Chinese chemical companies export fentanyl precursors and provide consultations to Americans looking to synthesize the drug on online forums. The fact that Donald Trump explicitly cited the fentanyl issue when imposing the harshest tariffs on China suggests that dialogue between the two nations is not out of the question.

In an intriguing twist, Donald Trump once suggested that asking China to assist in resolving the conflict between Russia and Ukraine was a "natural thing to ask." The prospect of dialogue between China and the U.S. might become a reality.

Fentanyl: A Modern Tragedy

Terms such as “fentanyl crisis” and “fentanyl epidemic” aren’t an exaggeration. The word “tragedy” also aptly fits this growing concern.

Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid used medically as an anesthetic, is far more potent than heroin or morphine. In the 2010s, recreational use of fentanyl exploded in North America, leading to hundreds of overdose deaths daily. At the peak in 2022, fatal overdoses on synthetic opioids (mostly fentanyl) reached nearly 80,000 in the U.S. alone. Although Canada, with its smaller population, doesn’t see as many deaths, its numbers are still disheartening, with around 6,000 fentanyl-related deaths in 2023. Despite the difference in scale, if we consider deaths per 100,000 of the population, Canada is nearly on par with the U.S.

Most of the victims of overdose are men under 45 years old, but the number of elders among fentanyl casualties is on the rise. The crisis has affected both men and women of all ages, including preschoolers. The staggering number of fatalities may be hard to grasp, but it is estimated that at the peak, it was killing one person every hour in Canada and one person every seven minutes in the U.S.

Despite a drop in fentanyl-related deaths post-2022, the epidemic scale remains vast. The Council on Foreign Relations notes that the 2022 fentanyl death count is ten times higher than the total casualties of the U.S. army in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars combined. The death toll in the fentanyl crisis is in line with the number of deaths in the most disheartening military conflicts of the 2020s: in Sudan, Gaza, Yemen, and Ukraine.

Two countries subjected to the harshest tariffs are the key players in the fentanyl trade in America: China and Mexico. Another country that faced high tariffs is Canada, where fentanyl from Valerian Labs once contributed to the problem.

Cryptocurrency: Promoting and Exposing the Fentanyl Trade

In 2022, the DEA deemed China the primary source of fentanyl killing Americans. The drug is sent to North America from China either by mail or through Mexico. Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Monero enable remote drug purchases and cross-border transactions, facilitating the fentanyl trade in North America. In a February 2025 Chainalysis report, it was highlighted that these cryptocurrencies both facilitate and expose the fentanyl trade, as darknet markets are sites where fentanyl and its precursors are often sold for digital currencies.

The use of cryptocurrency in the fentanyl trade raises questions about privacy, as transactions on such platforms are recorded on blockchains. However, this transparency allows investigators to trace and disrupt trafficking networks more effectively than with cash-based systems. The dual role of cryptocurrency—facilitating both illicit activities and their detection—continues to evolve as enforcement strategies adapt.

The Road Forward

Whether China is genuinely prepared or capable of dismantling its transcontinental fentanyl supply chain remains uncertain. However, it serves as a potent bargaining chip in the looming trade talks with the Trump administration. In 2019, Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Cronin put it straightforwardly: “if the People's Republic of China wanted to shut down the synthetic opioid industry, they could do so in a day.”

Considering the devastating impact of the fentanyl crisis on North America and the rising tensions between China and the U.S., it is crucial to achieve a collaborative resolution to curb this deadly epidemic. The integration of cryptocurrency in the fentanyl trade further complicates the issue, necessitating advanced enforcement strategies.

  1. China's potential assistance in addressing the North American fentanyl crisis could be a crucial element in trade negotiations with the U.S, given the alarming rise in fentanyl-related deaths.
  2. According to unnamed sources, China's chemical companies export fentanyl precursors and consult with Americans seeking to synthesize the drug on online forums, making them key players in the North American fentanyl market.
  3. The use of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Monero in the fentanyl trade facilitates remote drug purchases and cross-border transactions, both promoting the fentanyl trade and providing a means for investigators to trace and disrupt trafficking networks.
  4. The DEA identified China as the primary source of fentanyl killing Americans in 2022, with the drug being sent to North America either directly or through Mexico.
  5. The Council on Foreign Relations reported that the 2022 fentanyl death toll in the U.S. was ten times higher than the total casualties of the U.S. army in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars combined.
  6. In the general news and crime-and-justice sectors, discussions about the fentanyl crisis often involve terms such as "fentanyl crisis," "fentanyl epidemic," and "fentanyl tragedy."
  7. In light of the devastating impact of the fentanyl crisis and the rising tension between China and the U.S., a collaborative resolution is necessary to curb this deadly epidemic, considering the use of cryptocurrencies in the fentanyl trade adds a complex layer to enforcement strategies.

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