Fentanyl likely on US-China trade agenda after long absence: analysts

While the drug was not mentioned publicly after earlier negotiations, recent comments suggest the topic could come back into the spotlight

“It’s reasonable to view the fentanyl issue as a potential ‘third stage’ in US-China negotiations, particularly given how politically salient it has become in Washington,” said Matteo Giovannini, senior finance manager at the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China and a non-resident associate fellow at the Centre for China and Globalisation, a Beijing-based think tank.

“While not traditionally a trade matter, the fentanyl crisis has been elevated to a core national security and public health concern in the US, which means it can be leveraged in broader bilateral talks.”