Beijing hits out at 'fentanyl tariffs' from Washington

Beijing has slammed Washington for disrupting bilateral counternarcotics dialogue and cooperation by slapping "fentanyl tariffs" on Chinese imports, and urged it to stop pressuring or threatening China over the fentanyl issue.

The issue is the problem of the United States, not China, and the responsibility lies in the US itself, Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said on Friday.

Guo made the remarks after Reuters cited US officials as saying that talks between the two countries to tackle the issue continue, "even as American negotiators claim the Chinese are failing to negotiate in good faith".

A US official also said that Washington might consider additional punitive measures against Beijing.

Dismissing such remarks, Guo said the US has "groundlessly slapped tariffs on Chinese imports over the issue while brushing aside China's goodwill".

At the request of the US, China placed the whole class of fentanyl-related substances under control in 2019, making it the first country in the world to have done so.

Citing the fentanyl issue as the reason, the US slapped an additional 20 percent tariff on Chinese goods earlier this year, before repeatedly hiking it to what reports said in April is a total of 145 percent.

The "fentanyl tariffs" the US has imposed on China are "a typical act of bullying", Guo said.

"The US should understand that it will fail to cover up its own unfulfilled duty by smearing others, nor will it solve the problem by returning evil for good," Guo said. "Pressuring or threatening China is by no means the right way to engage with us."

The spokesman also reiterated that China and the US are not having any consultations or negotiations on tariffs, after reports quoted the US side as saying trade talks between the two countries were underway.

"The US side should not mislead the public," Guo said.

In another development, Guo dismissed the issuance of an annual US report on arms control and nonproliferation, urging the US to fulfill its international obligations and commitments, instead of deflecting blame to China.

The US Department of State recently issued its so-called "adherence to and compliance with arms control, nonproliferation, and disarmament agreements and commitments" 2025 report. "The report issued year after year says nothing about the US' own negative moves in arms control, disarmament and nonproliferation, but makes groundless accusations about other countries," Guo said.

In the area of arms control and nonproliferation, China upholds true multilateralism, and has earnestly fulfilled its international obligations and commitments, the spokesman said, adding that the US, on the other hand, is "the biggest disrupter" of the international arms control and nonproliferation system.

"In recent years, the US has vigorously built up its military strength, instigated major-country confrontation and undermined global and regional strategic stability. It has also wantonly withdrawn from international treaties and organizations, and ignored international order, rules and obligations."

Guo called on the US to "take a harder look at itself" and respond actively to concerns about its compliance with treaties and agreements.

wangqingyun@chinadaily.com.cn