Presidents Xi Jinping of China and Joe Biden of the United States announced plans to cut down on the amount of the lethal drug fentanyl entering the country.
While this move represents progress in addressing the fentanyl overdose crisis, experts caution that it alone will not solve the problem, as per AP News.
Xi-Biden Fentanyl Deal Amid Challenges
TOPSHOT - US President Joe Biden (R) and Chinese President Xi Jinping walk together after a meeting during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders' week in Woodside, California on November 15, 2023. Biden and Xi will try to prevent the superpowers' rivalry spilling into conflict when they meet for the first time in a year at a high-stakes summit in San Francisco on Wednesday. With tensions soaring over issues including Taiwan, sanctions and trade, the leaders of the world's largest economies are expected to hold at least three hours of talks at the Filoli country estate on the city's outskirts.
The agreement between Biden and Xi involves China instructing its chemical companies to limit shipments of materials used in fentanyl production to Latin America and other destinations.
Fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid, is primarily manufactured in Mexico and then smuggled into the United States. Additionally, China has resumed sharing information about suspected drug trafficking with an international database.
Associate Professor of Public Policy Adam Wandt of John Jay College of Criminal Justice characterized this as a constructive stride, underscoring that it would be imprudent to neglect such measures. However, experts recognize that the challenge at hand is formidable.
Many of the precursor chemicals required to produce fentanyl are legally manufactured and exported in China. The extent to which Beijing can regulate its pharmaceutical market remains uncertain. Moreover, the global drug trade is complex and often blurs the lines between legal and illegal activities.
Liu Zongyuan, an expert at the Council of Foreign Relations, notes that the vast and fragmented nature of the industry makes it difficult for Chinese authorities to identify and control chemicals that can be transformed into fentanyl.
Even if China enforces strict limits, drug cartels can seek alternative sources, as seen with India becoming a growing supplier of fentanyl precursors, according to Business Insider.
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A Persistent Challenge Despite Biden-Xi Agreement
According to Liu, fentanyl is reported to be 50 times more potent than heroin and generates approximately 20 times the profit compared to heroin. The allure of high profits has been identified as a powerful motivator for engaging in illegal activities.
Based on Robert Ross, a political science professor at Boston College, the current agreement between President Biden and President Xi may not have a significant impact on the fentanyl crisis in the United States.
He emphasizes that the root of the problem lies in the demand for drugs within the United States. As long as there is demand, the supply may find other sources, whether from Mexico, China, or elsewhere.
Meanwhile, the United States has taken steps to facilitate counternarcotics cooperation with China. The US removed China's Institute of Forensic Science (IFS) from a trade sanctions list, a move aimed at improving bilateral cooperation on synthetic drugs and precursor chemicals that contribute to the fentanyl crisis.
However, this decision has drawn concerns from human rights advocates, who argue that it raises questions about the US' commitment to addressing China's human rights violations, particularly regarding the Uyghur population.
Fentanyl continues to hold its position as the primary cause of death among individuals in the age group of 18 to 49 in the United States. In an ongoing trend, China remains the primary origin of fentanyl and its related substances that are illicitly transported into the United States.
While the agreement between Biden and Xi is a significant step, it is clear that tackling the fentanyl crisis requires a multifaceted approach, addressing both supply and demand while navigating complex international dynamics, Voice of America reported.
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