U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced on Sunday that he would rally efforts to include an amendment in the upcoming defense policy legislation, aimed at penalizing China for its alleged role in producing the narcotic fentanyl. Schumer held China responsible for producing the majority of fentanyl, which U.S. authorities say is the cause of tens of thousands of American deaths from overdoses. He stated that the drug comes from production sites in China "with the full acceptance and approval of the Chinese government."
In a press conference in New York, he said, "I will push for an amendment prepared by both parties to be included in the defense policy bill, which will encompass significant legislation banning fentanyl and imposing penalties on violators," confirming that he will introduce the bill this week.
He added, "I hope it will receive approval, and I believe it will have strong bipartisan support. This is essential and indispensable." Schumer indicated that the amendment, proposed by Republican Senator Tim Scott and Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown, would give the White House the authority to declare fentanyl trafficking a "national emergency," opening the door for sanctions.
Previously, Beijing accused Washington of using the fentanyl crisis as a pretext to impose sanctions on Chinese companies, offering to collaborate with other nations to address the issues related to this narcotic. The Senate, controlled by Democrats, is set to begin discussions on the National Defense Authorization Act for the fiscal year 2024 on Tuesday.
