Schumer aims for bipartisan sanctions on China for fentanyl.

Ryan MorganJuly 17, 2023

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Senate‍ Majority Leader Seeks‍ Bipartisan Support to Sanction ‍China Over Fentanyl

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Senate⁤ Majority Leader Chuck Schumer ⁢(D-N.Y.) is seeking bipartisan support‌ to impose‍ new⁣ sanctions‍ against‍ China‌ over its role ⁤in bringing fentanyl to ⁣the United States.

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Fentanyl is‍ a⁣ deadly synthetic opioid that is ‌50–100 ‍times more powerful than morphine. ⁤While ‍its potency⁢ has made ‌it‍ a popular ⁢and cheap ⁣additive in other street drugs, it⁣ has also greatly raised the risk of overdoses, contributing to tens of⁢ thousands of deaths in the United⁤ States. ‌According to⁢ a June report‍ by‍ the U.S. Center For⁣ Disease Control ‌and⁢ Prevention, there were 70,601 overdose deaths linked to non-Methadone synthetic opioids, ⁣with fentanyl⁤ being⁣ a primary source ‌for⁤ these deaths.

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Mr.⁤ Schumer‍ said much of ⁤the fentanyl that⁣ is currently in the United States comes from⁢ production ‍sites in China ⁢”with ⁣the total acceptance ⁣and acquiescence⁣ of the⁣ Chinese government.”

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At ‌a press conference on Sunday, Mr. Schumer said he would support adding ‍an‌ amendment to ‍the⁢ annual ‌defense⁢ budget, the 2024 National Defense‍ Authorization Act (NDAA), that⁤ would‌ declare‍ the prevalence of ‌fentanyl in the United States⁣ to be a‌ national ⁣emergency and to ⁣sanction the Chinese ‌communist regime for its contribution to this ⁤emergency.

“I ⁢will push an amendment—bipartisan—into the defense bill ⁤that will include major fentanyl stopping- and sanction-empowering‌ legislation, ⁣and we will bring that ⁢bill to the ⁤floor this week,”⁢ he said. ⁣”I ‍hope it ‍will‍ pass.‍ I believe that will ⁤pass⁢ with strong bipartisan support.⁢ And it should. It must.”

⁣ The spread⁢ of ‌fentanyl in the United States ‍has⁣ been‌ a topic of concern among both ⁢Democrats ⁣and Republicans in⁣ recent⁣ years. Mr. ⁣Schumer has already worked with Republicans in the past to raise⁢ sanctions against China over its ‍role in the U.S. ⁢fentanyl problem.

Mr. Schumer said ⁤this ‍newest sanctions push would be based ⁣on legislation ⁤proposed by⁣ Sens. ‌Sherrod⁤ Brown (D-Ohio) and Tim ⁤Scott (R-S.C.).⁤ Earlier this year, Mr. Scott introduced the Fentanyl Eradication and‍ Narcotics ⁤Deterrence (FEND)⁢ Off Fentanyl Act⁤ with support from Mr. Brown. ‍Sixty-one other senators have co-sponsored‌ the FEND Off Fentanyl Act.

“This‌ will‍ really ‌get‌ tough with them and‍ we will make them clamp down‍ on the fentanyl coming to ⁤the ⁢United⁢ States,”⁤ the ⁤Democratic Senate leader said.

China’s Role in⁤ Fentanyl⁢ Trafficking

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A ‍2020‌ report⁤ (pdf) by the U.S. ⁤Drug ‍Enforcement⁣ Administration ‌(DEA) describes China as ⁤”the primary source⁢ of fentanyl⁤ and fentanyl-related‌ substances trafficked through international‍ mail ⁤and express consignment ⁣operations‍ environment, as ‌well as the main source for all fentanyl-related substances⁤ trafficked into⁢ the United ⁣States.” Still, it’s ⁤unclear precisely⁣ what ⁢percentage⁤ of the⁤ fentanyl‌ in the‌ United States‍ comes from Chinese sources, as much of it arrives in‍ Mexico ‌as precursor ⁤chemicals before ⁤being brought across‍ the ⁤border.

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While⁤ the Chinese regime has⁢ reportedly ⁣been‌ more⁤ strictly regulating fentanyl and its precursors since⁢ 2017, according to the 2020 DEA⁣ report, Chinese fentanyl traffickers appeared to reroute⁢ their‌ supply lines through India ‌as a way to ⁤circumvent Chinese regulations. According⁤ to Brookings ⁤Institution‍ research Vanda Felbab-Brown,

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