The move follows renewed cooperation with Washington to curb fentanyl production amid ongoing trade tensions.
China has officially imposed export license requirements on 13 precursor chemicals sent to the United States, Canada, and Mexico, effective November 10, 2025. The new rule aims to tighten control over substances used in the manufacturing of synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, on of the leading causes of overdose deaths in the US, and comes amid shifting diplomatic dynamics between Beijing and Washington.
Beijing Tightens Chemical Export Controls
China’s Ministry of Commerce announced that exporters sending any of the 13 designated precursor chemicals to six countries, including the US, Mexico, Canada, Myanmar, Laos, and Afghanistan, must now obtain special government licenses. These chemicals are commonly used in the production of illicit narcotics such as fentanyl, amphetamines, and cocaine.
The ministry said the regulation was introduced “to strengthen supervision of precursor chemical exports,” emphasizing its focus on reducing illegal cross-border drug trafficking. Exporters targeting the US, Canada, and Mexico are now required to comply with this new licensing system, while shipments to other countries remain unaffected.
Linked to US-China Fentanyl Cooperation
The timing of the measure aligns with a recent discussion between Chinese President Xi Jinping and former US President Donald Trump in South Korea, where both leaders agreed to revive cooperation on combating the fentanyl crisis. According to reports, Trump pledged to cut tariffs on certain Chinese goods from 20% to 10% in exchange for Beijing’s assistance in restricting precursor chemical exports.
Analysts see this as part of a broader effort to reduce tensions in the US–China trade relationship while addressing the fentanyl epidemic that has claimed tens of thousands of American lives each year.
Expert Views on Renewed Collaboration
Vanda Felbab-Brown, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, noted that the new restrictions effectively “restart what China had already implemented in the latter half of 2024,” referring to previous attempts to control fentanyl-related substances.
White House deputy press secretary Anna Kelly said Trump “has taken every possible step to stop the flow of illegal narcotics into the US,” including “tightening border control, cracking down on drug shipping routes, and restricting fentanyl precursors.”
Historical Context of Fentanyl Cooperation
China’s role in the fentanyl supply chain has been a longstanding point of contention. In 2019, during Trump’s first term, Beijing agreed to classify fentanyl and its analogues as controlled substances following US pressure. However, cooperation waned in 2020 as bilateral ties deteriorated over human rights issues, and formal anti-narcotics collaboration was suspended in 2022.
The latest export restrictions mark the first tangible sign of renewed engagement between the two powers in combating synthetic drug trafficking, a politically significant move as both countries seek to stabilize trade relations while tackling public health concerns.
By mandating export licenses for 13 key precursor chemicals, China signals its intent to re-engage with the US on countering the fentanyl crisis, while simultaneously protecting its strategic trade interests. For Southeast Asian and global observers, this policy underscores how narcotics control has become intertwined with geopolitics, diplomacy, and the broader evolution of US–China relations.
Sources: ANTARA News Kepri (2025) , KONTAN (2025)
Keywords: China Export Restrictions, Fentanyl Agreement, US Trade Policy, Precursor Chemicals, Trump Xi Meeting, Opioid Regulation
