China says it will make adjustments to the catalogue of drug-related precursor chemicals and will require licences for export of certain chemicals to the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
The country’s Commerce Ministry made the announcement on Monday. The move follows U.S. President Donald Trump halving the tariffs on Chinese goods that were imposed as a punishment over the flow of fentanyl to 10%. This change came after President Trump met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in South Korea 30 October.
Xi will work "very hard to stop the flow" of fentanyl, a deadly synthetic opioid that is the leading cause of American overdose deaths, Trump told reporters after the talks.
The deal signalled a shift for Trump officials, who had insisted that punitive measures would remain in place until China proved it was cracking down on fentanyl supply chains.
Chinese officials vehemently defend their record on fentanyl, saying they have already taken extensive action to regulate precursor chemicals used to make the drug and accuse Washington of using the issue as "blackmail."
Meeting in South Korea
The Xi-Trump deal went beyond fentanyl and included the resumption of U.S. soybean purchases by China.
Beijing agreed to pause export curbs unveiled in October on rare earths, elements with vital roles in many modern technologies.
FBI in Beijing
Meanwhile, the Federation Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel visited China last week to discuss fentanyl and law enforcement issues according to two people familiar with his trip said.
A person briefed on Patel's trip said the FBI director flew into Beijing on Friday and stayed for about a day. He held talks with Chinese officials on Saturday, the person added.
Patel's visit to Beijing was not officially announced by either the U.S. or China and is being reported by Reuters for the first time.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Monday that he was not aware of the trip. China's Ministry of Public Security and the U.S. embassy in Beijing did not respond to requests for comment.
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President Donald Trump is scheduled to be briefed on Tuesday on specific options to respond to ongoing protests in Iran, including potential military measures, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday expressed support for protesters in Iran, saying Israel is closely monitoring developments as demonstrations spread across the country.
Leonardo DiCaprio, Timothée Chalamet and other top names will compete for top honours at the 2026 Golden Globe Awards, a key event in the run-up to the Academy Awards. The ceremony is due to take place on Sunday in Beverly Hills, California, recognising achievements across film and television.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 11th of January, covering the latest developments you need to know.
U.S. President Donald Trump has ruled out ordering a mission to capture Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying he is confident the war in Ukraine can be brought to an end.
Bob Weir, the rhythm guitarist, songwriter and co-founder of the Grateful Dead, has died at the age of 78, his family has said.
Türkiye is reportedly in discussions to join the defence alliance between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, a strategic move that could reshape security dynamics in the Middle East and South Asia.
China, Russia and Iran have begun a week-long joint naval exercise in South African waters, a move that comes amid strained relations between Washington and several members of the expanded BRICS bloc.
Warning of a strategic threat from Russia and China, Donald Trump said on Friday that the United States must acquire Greenland to prevent the Arctic island from falling under foreign control.
President Donald Trump is scheduled to be briefed on Tuesday on specific options to respond to ongoing protests in Iran, including potential military measures, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday expressed support for protesters in Iran, saying Israel is closely monitoring developments as demonstrations spread across the country.
U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday said Cuba should strike a deal with the United States, warning that the island nation would no longer receive oil or financial support.
Israeli gunfire killed at least three Palestinians in two separate incidents across the Gaza Strip on Sunday, local health authorities reported, as tensions continue to simmer despite a ceasefire agreement reached in October between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas.
More than 1,000 apartment buildings in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, remain without heating after a Russian missile strike earlier this week, local authorities said on Sunday, as freezing temperatures grip the city.
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