China tightens export controls on chemicals to the US, Canada, and Mexico
China said it is now requiring permits for exports to the United States, Mexico, and Canada of two additional chemicals that can be used to make illegal drugs, expanding controls on shipments to the three countries, reports BritPanorama.
The Commerce Ministry and other authorities jointly announced the new regulations ahead of this week’s meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump. This addition brings the total number of chemicals under such controls to 18.
The U.S. has identified China as the world’s largest producer of numerous precursor chemicals involved in the illicit production of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and other hazardous synthetic drugs. Washington has urged Beijing to take more decisive steps to curtail the flow of unregulated precursor chemicals.
In November 2025, Beijing had previously announced export restrictions on 13 “drug-making” chemicals to the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, including substances used to create the synthetic opioid linked to tens of thousands of overdose deaths annually in the U.S. Earlier in May, China had added three more types of fentanyl-related precursors to this list. These measures followed high-level discussions between Xi and Trump during meetings in South Korea in October and Beijing in May.
China has faced a fentanyl-related tariff imposed by the U.S. Earlier this year, Beijing issued a report outlining its initiatives to combat the illegal fentanyl trade, while criticizing the U.S. for imposing tariffs in response to its goodwill gestures. In February, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled to strike down the tariff.
As these developments unfold, the focus remains on diplomatic engagements aimed at addressing the persistent issues surrounding drug production and trade. The international community watches closely as the regulatory landscape evolves.
