US should change the narrative about the opioid crisis if it wants China’s full support

Most analysts would agree that the trade truce between Beijing and Washington is a temporary de-escalation of tension as fundamental factors, such as their economic and tech rivalries, remain much the same.

However, the 90-day tariff pause is an important period for the two countries to prepare for strategic moves in the next stage, including speeding up the diversification of supply chains and markets to reduce the shock of potential tariff hikes once the truce ends.

The easing of tension is also an opportunity for both sides to adjust their narratives to help reach some attainable goals.

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Unravelling China’s role in the US fentanyl crisis

These objectives must be realistic, given that the United States has made it clear it will continue to aim for “decoupling” from China on “strategic necessities”.

Reversing tariffs to the level they were before so-called Liberation Day – when US President Donald Trump launched a worldwide tariff war – is not realistic, even though Beijing has repeatedly called on Washington to do so.

When announcing the reduction in tariffs after talks in Switzerland, the US said both sides had agreed to take “aggressive actions” to stem the flow of fentanyl and other precursors from China to illicit drug producers in North America.

US media and analysts have said that Beijing has used its cooperation in stemming the flow of chemicals for fentanyl production as leverage in negotiations on a broader range of issues.

South China Morning Post