Biden administration says US and China must “do more” against fentanyl

The Administration of President Joe Biden celebrated the new phase of cooperation between the United States and China to stop fentanyl trafficking, but stressed that both countries still must “do more.”

“It’s still not enough, but the fact that there is a working group means we have a mechanism to continue discussing what more can be done,” State Department counternarcotics chief Todd Robinson told a group of reporters. among them EFE.

Robinson participated on Tuesday in Beijing in the first working meeting to stop the trafficking of chemicals used to manufacture fentanyl, a powerful drug that has unleashed the worst opioid crisis in the history of the United States.

This working group, the result of the agreement reached last November in San Francisco by Biden and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, plans to hold regular meetings in both countries.

“There are definitely more things that we think both sides can do in terms of going after the companies that ship these drugs around the world,” Robinson said.

The US official maintained that when both powers cooperate, results are achieved and gave as an example the drastic drop in fentanyl entry in 2019 into the United States after Washington asked Beijing to stop trafficking of that substance.

“We know that when they take action, when they warn companies that they are violating laws, both Chinese and international, that has an almost immediate effect,” he explained.

In that sense, he stressed that China is already taking measures again such as warning or closing companies that are marketing certain chemical products.

According to Robinson, the atmosphere of the meeting “was generally positive” and it showed that both delegations take this issue “seriously.”

The anti-narcotics chief, however, admitted that he is aware that at any moment a crisis could break out between the two countries that would break these cooperation efforts.

“We have it on the radar. It has happened before, it wouldn’t be the first time,” said Robinson, recalling crises such as the alleged Chinese spy balloon that flew over the United States or the visit of former Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan.

Chinese Foreign Spokesperson Wang Wenbin acknowledged on Wednesday that there were difficulties in resuming cooperation with the United States in its fight against fentanyl, but said he hoped Washington would “value the opportunity” it is given to “work hand in hand.” with Beijing in this field.

The third country in the fentanyl route equation is Mexico, where, according to Washington, the Chinese chemical precursors that drug cartels use to manufacture the opioid and traffic it in the United States arrive.

Robinson said that the constant meetings between US and Mexican officials are a sign that “Mexico is committed to this issue,” but he also admitted that things could get “complicated” this year as the presidential elections in Mexico and the United States approach. Joined.

Keep reading:

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• Hispanic man and partner sold weapons and deadly drug fentanyl in New York: accusation
• Representatives from the United States, Mexico and Canada discuss measures to reduce fentanyl trafficking in the region