China condemns U.S. for using Fentanyl as excuse to impose tariffs

China has strongly condemned the United States for imposing additional tariffs on Chinese goods under the pretext of the fentanyl issue.

China's Commerce Minister Wang Wentao made the remarks at a press conference on the economy during the third session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) on Thursday in Beijing.

Wang emphasized that China has implemented rigorous controls over fentanyl-related chemicals and has actively enhanced international cooperation on drug control. He criticized the U.S. for using the fentanyl issue as an unjustified excuse to impose tariffs, calling it an unfounded move.  

The U.S. government announced on Monday the imposition of additional 10-percent tariffs on all Chinese goods imported into the U.S., citing the fentanyl issue as a primary reason.  

China released a white paper the following day, detailing its strict regulatory measures and commitment to global drug control efforts.

Simultaneously, China announced a series of countermeasures, including imposing additional tariffs of 15 percent on imported chicken, wheat, corn and cotton, and 10 percent on sorghum, soybeans, pork, beef, aquatic products, fruits, vegetables and dairy products.

Wang criticized the U.S. tariff policy as a "classic case of harming others without benefiting itself," noting that the tariffs announcement was followed by an immediate decline in the three major U.S. stock indices.

He reiterated that trade wars have no winners and that protectionism offers no viable path forward. The unilateral and bullying actions of the U.S., he said, run counter to global trends and have drawn widespread concern and opposition from the international community.

Wang further emphasized that U.S. trade and investment restrictions are emblematic of unilateralism and bullying, but such coercion and threats are ineffective against China. He stressed the importance of China-U.S. cooperation, stating that the success of both nations presents mutual opportunities rather than threats. Cooperation between the two countries, he added, aligns with the fundamental interests of their peoples and the expectations of the international community.