US Senator Schumer Announces Fentanyl Sanctions Bill Before China Trade Talks

US Senator Schumer Announces Fentanyl Sanctions Bill Before China Trade Talks
Senator Chuck Schumer speaks during an inauguration ceremony for the new Attorney General of New York, Letitia James, in New York on Jan. 6, 2019. The Senate's top Democrat is introducing legislation to sanction traffickers who export fentanyl into the United States. Schumer announced the Fentanyl Sanctions Act on Feb. 10 in New York. Seth Wenig/AP
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WASHINGTON—The Senate’s top Democrat is introducing legislation to “hold China accountable” and sanction laboratories and other traffickers who export fentanyl to the United States.

The bill, which will be introduced by Sen. Charles Schumer, of New York later this week, is likely to add to growing tension between the United States and China, days before Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer will lead high-level trade talks in China.