China defends fentanyl controls, dismisses US allegations on drug trafficking as ‘lies’
02:03
Trump says tariffs on Chinese imports will double to 20% and take effect on March 4
Washington says its tariffs are designed to compel China to enforce stricter controls on fentanyl, a dangerous opioid, to stop it from entering the US.
The Chinese foreign ministry dismissed the US allegations as “lies”. “The United States is determined to use the fentanyl issue as an excuse to once again impose tariffs on Chinese products exported to the US,” ministry spokesman Lin Jian said on Tuesday, adding that counter tariffs were “completely legitimate and necessary”.
“The United States has spread all kinds of lies on the issue of fentanyl, smearing China to shift the blame … which is unreasonable and detrimental to themselves as much as to us,” he said.
But if the other side was insistent on a tariff or trade war or any kind of confrontation, “China will fight till the end”, he warned.