China enacts restrictions on precursor chemicals to US following Trump-Xi deal

China has added the United States, Mexico and Canada to its list of countries subject to export controls on precursor chemicals used in drug manufacturing, following commitments made during a trade and economic deal reached between President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping, the Ministry of Commerce announced.

With the publication of the notice, exports of chemicals listed in the catalogue to the United States, Mexico and Canada require a licence in accordance with the Interim Regulations on the Administration of Export of Controlled Chemicals to Specific Countries. Exports to other countries do not require a licence.

MOFCOM, the Ministry of Public Security, Ministry of Emergency Management, General Administration of Customs and National Medical Products Administration jointly announced the addition of 13 precursor chemicals to the controlled list for the three countries.

The action follows a historic agreement between Trump and Xi, signed at the start of this month in South Korea, in which China committed to ‘halt the flow of precursors used to make fentanyl into the United States’, according to a White House fact sheet published 1 November.

Under the deal, ‘China will stop the shipment of certain designated chemicals to North America and strictly control exports of certain other chemicals to all destinations in the world,’ the White House said.

The controlled chemicals include various chemical derivatives that can be used in the synthesis of illicit drugs including fentanyl. Precursor chemicals are compounds required in many areas of the chemical and pharmaceutical industries but are often used illegally to manufacture controlled substances such as narcotics.

Exporters are required to provide original documentation from competent authorities of the importing country certifying the legal use of these chemicals, or a guarantee document from the importer confirming legal use, according to the new rule. 

China’s Office of National Narcotics Control Commission issued a notice reminding exporters to pay close attention to international conventions and the laws of importing countries, especially ‘high-risk destinations’ such as the US, Canada and Mexico, the official China Daily reported.

China previously applied precursor chemical export controls to Myanmar, Laos and Afghanistan, targeting 41 chemicals including those used in drug production.

China-US counternarcotics cooperation has deepened since last year, with the establishment of a working group in January 2024, followed by its first meeting and the tenth China-US drug intelligence exchange conference, China Daily reported.