On February 1, the U.S. government imposed a 10% tariff on Chinese imports, citing concerns over the direct flow of fentanyl and synthetic opioids. Just a month later, the tariff was doubled to 20%—a move seen by many as a political deflection from America’s own domestic challenges.
This controversial measure is widely criticized as a scapegoating tactic, shifting the blame to the Chinese mainland rather than addressing long-standing internal issues. Critics point out that America’s opioid epidemic, rooted in profit-driven practices and overprescription since the 1990s, cannot be solved by externalizing responsibility.
Historically, effective U.S.-China counter-narcotics cooperation has played a key role in combating the opioid crisis. At Washington’s request, the Chinese mainland implemented comprehensive controls in 2019 by classifying all fentanyl-related substances as regulated drugs and establishing a robust monitoring framework. Joint law enforcement operations, enhanced intelligence-sharing, and coordinated technical exchanges have resulted in significant declines in fentanyl-related deaths, as confirmed by CDC data from the fourth quarter of 2024.
However, the renewed tariffs threaten to undermine this critical collaboration. As U.S. policymakers focus on external explanations for the opioid crisis, experts warn that sidelining necessary domestic reforms may further weaken both public health safeguards and economic competitiveness in an increasingly interdependent world.
Reference(s):
U.S.'s 'fentanyl tariff': A logical fallacy & strategic miscalculation
cgtn.com
