During the ceremonial signing of the bipartisan HALT Fentanyl Act, Trump revealed plans for a new accord with China that would see Beijing impose the death penalty on individuals manufacturing or distributing fentanyl destined for the United States. Trump emphasized that the U.S. had already penalized China with a 20% tariff, framing it as compensation for fentanyl-related devastation in America.

Trump expressed confidence that Chinese President Xi Jinping backs the move and that such harsh sentencing would be “worked out soon,” noting the tariff was meant as a punitive measure for China’s role in the crisis . He also drew a contrast with the previous administration, accusing former President Biden of enabling drug cartels through lenient border policies.

China has already classified two fentanyl precursors as controlled substances and ramped up enforcement efforts, including large-scale seizures, arrests, and initiating bribery-related charges within its drug-control apparatus. Despite this, Beijing remains cautious about U.S. demands for publicizing crackdowns.

With over 450,000 American opioid deaths reported over the past decade, Trump’s push intertwines legal severity with diplomatic pressure.