In a new letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Attorney General Merrick Garland, and ONDCP Director Dr. Rahul Gupta, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer pressed the Biden administration to hold China accountable for its commitments to combat the flow of illicit fentanyl. Schumer’s call comes nearly a year after he led a bipartisan delegation to China, where he urged President Xi to take stronger actions against the export of precursor chemicals fueling the opioid crisis in the U.S.
While acknowledging some progress from China, Schumer emphasized the need for further steps. He urged the administration to intensify law enforcement actions against Chinese companies involved in the fentanyl trade, improve domestic regulations on precursor chemicals, and crack down on money laundering networks. Schumer also recommended maintaining China’s designation as a Major Illicit Drug Producing Country for FY2025 if significant progress is not made.
Schumer’s push aligns with ongoing efforts to curb the fentanyl crisis, which has devastated many communities across the U.S.
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