China will expand the range of fentanyl-related substances it defines as controlled narcotics, a Chinese security official said on Monday, blaming U.S. culture for abuse of the drug.U.S.
President Donald Trump has criticized China for allowing fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, to be shipped from China to the United States, which faces an epidemic of opioid-related deaths.
Fentanyl has been tied to already tense bilateral relations, with U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer saying he hopes to include China’s commitments to curb the drug in any agreement to end the two countries’ bitter trade war.
