China tightens controls on fentanyl-making chemicals shipped to the U.S. just days before Trump and Xi meet at the White House

China has implemented new regulations requiring permits for exports to the United States, Mexico, and Canada of two additional chemicals used in the production of illegal drugs, including fentanyl. This expansion of controls brings the total number of regulated chemicals to 18. China, known for being the world's leading producer of precursor chemicals for illicit drugs such as fentanyl and methamphetamine, has been urged by the U.S. to take more stringent measures to curb the flow of unregulated chemicals.

In November 2025, China initially imposed export restrictions on 13 chemicals used in the production of synthetic opioids, which are responsible for thousands of overdose deaths annually in the U.S. Following meetings with U.S. President Donald Trump in South Korea and China in May, China added three more fentanyl-related precursor chemicals to the list.

Beijing had previously faced a U.S. tariff on fentanyl-related products, which was subsequently overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court in February.