China has introduced new export permit requirements for two additional chemicals that can be used to manufacture illegal drugs, applying these restrictions to exports bound for the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The Chinese government announced the updated regulations on Tuesday, with the Ministry of Commerce and other relevant authorities jointly issuing the new controls ahead of a high-level meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump. These additions bring the total number of chemicals subject to such export controls to 18. The United States has long highlighted China as the world's largest producer of precursor chemicals used in the illicit production of powerful synthetic drugs like fentanyl and methamphetamine. These drugs have been linked to thousands of overdose deaths in the U.S. The U.S. has repeatedly called on China to take more decisive action to curb the flow of these unregulated chemicals. In November 2025, China announced export restrictions on 13 chemicals used in drug production, targeting the same three countries. This was followed by additional restrictions in May 2025, which included three more fentanyl-related precursors. These measures came after meetings between Xi and Trump in South Korea in October 2025 and in Beijing in May. China has faced economic pressure from the United States in the form of a fentanyl-related tariff, which was imposed to address concerns about the flow of precursor chemicals. In response, Beijing released a report in March 2025 outlining its efforts to control the illegal trade in fentanyl. China's foreign minister criticized the U.S. for retaliating against these efforts with tariffs, calling the response an overreaction to China's goodwill. However, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in February 2025 that the tariff was unconstitutional, effectively ending the trade measure. The ongoing dialogue between China and the United States reflects the complex relationship between the two nations on issues of drug control and trade. While China has taken steps to tighten its export controls, the U.S. continues to push for stronger measures to prevent the proliferation of synthetic drugs. The situation remains a key point of discussion in their bilateral relations, with both sides seeking to balance national interests and global public health concerns.