President Donald Trump has publicly pressured the Chinese government to implement more aggressive measures to restrict the export of chemicals used to manufacture fentanyl. This diplomatic push occurs just days before a high-level summit between Trump and President Xi Jinping, where the two leaders are expected to discuss various bilateral issues.

The timing of this request is notable, as it follows a period of reported improvement in the relationship between the two nations regarding drug enforcement. Only one week prior to Trump’s statement, security agencies from both the United States and China publicly praised their recent progress in working together on counternarcotics law enforcement. Despite this recent cooperation, the administration is signaling that more significant results are required to address the flow of illicit substances into the United States.

The call for action was made in conjunction with the release of the U.S. government’s annual list identifying major source and transit countries for illicit drugs. While the administration acknowledges the existing communication channels between the two countries, the latest move suggests that the White House intends to make the regulation of chemical precursors a central point of negotiation during the upcoming summit. Neither the Chinese government nor the White House has provided specific details on what new enforcement mechanisms might be proposed during the meeting.