Daines, a lawmaker for Montana, stated on X earlier this year that he would be speaking with Chinese officials about reducing the production and distribution of fentanyl and” the need to reduce the trade deficit and maintain good market exposure for our Montana farmers, farmers, and suppliers.”
Tensions between the world’s two largest economies have increased since Trump’s second term, just two months after the US imposed 20 % tariffs on Chinese goods and drew 15 % retaliatory tariffs on US farm goods from China.
Additionally, the US accuses China of doing too little to stop the export of precursors for fentanyl, a highly potent opiate that is responsible for tens of thousands of US fatalities.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi retorted this month, accusing Washington of “meeting good with evil” and saying China will continue to retaliate against the United States ‘ “arbitrary tariffs.”
Beijing also responded with a report outlining its efforts to stop the illicit trade of fentanyl, particularly the ingredients used to make the drug.
According to the report, China and the US have organized numerous high-level discussions to promote cooperation since the beginning of the year, and their Narcotics Control Bureau regularly meets with the US Drug Enforcement Agency.
China is committed to cooperation, according to the report, but it “resolutely opposes” the US’s use of force to impose unlawful sanctions and unreasonable pressure on China under the pretext of resolving fentanyl-related issues.
Daines arrived in Beijing on Thursday and met with Ma Zhaoxu, the vice foreign minister of China, for bilateral relations and other issues of concern on the second day. His trip to the Chinese capital came after a meeting with world leaders in Vietnam.