US Senator Tells China to Crack Down on Fentanyl Chemicals in Beijing

Sen. Steve Daines is the first U.S. politician to travel to Beijing since Trump’s second term began.

Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) (C) greets Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng (L) before their meeting held in the Xinjiang Room at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on March 22, 2025. Ng Han Guan/AFP via Getty Images

Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) called on Beijing to address China’s manufacturing of precursor chemicals used in fentanyl production, an issue that President Donald Trump has cited as a reason for his recent tariff hikes against the country.

Daines, the first U.S. politician to travel to Beijing since Trump’s second term began, conveyed the message during a meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang on March 23.