China Broadens Chemical Export Controls
China announced that exporters will need permits to send two additional drug precursor chemicals to the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The new requirements expand the number of controlled substances to 18 and were introduced shortly before a meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump.
U.S. officials have described China as the world’s largest producer of many chemicals used to manufacture fentanyl, methamphetamine, and other illegal synthetic drugs. Washington has repeatedly urged Beijing to take stronger action against shipments of unregulated precursors linked to the drug supply.
Restrictions Have Expanded Since 2025
Beijing first imposed export restrictions on 13 drug-making chemicals destined for the three North American countries in November 2025. That group included substances used to produce fentanyl, the synthetic opioid blamed for tens of thousands of overdose deaths in the United States each year.
Three more fentanyl-related precursors were added in May 2026, bringing the total to 16 before the latest announcement. Those earlier measures followed meetings between Xi and Trump in South Korea in October 2025 and in Beijing the following May.
Fentanyl Policy Remains a Diplomatic Dispute
China’s controls have developed alongside continuing tensions with the United States over responsibility for the fentanyl trade. After Washington imposed a fentanyl-related tariff on Chinese goods, Beijing released a report in March 2025 describing its efforts to combat the illegal trade.
Chinese officials later criticized the United States for responding to what they characterized as goodwill with additional tariffs. The U.S. Supreme Court struck down the fentanyl-related tariff in February, while the new permit requirements place drug precursors back on the bilateral agenda before the leaders meet.
References
The Associated Press. (2026, September 22). China expands export control on drug precursors ahead of Trump-Xi meeting. AP News. https://apnews.com/article/china-us-drug-precursor-chemicals-6e3012905f3263b796325c03e94d1e40