United States Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had an introductory call with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, during which he expressed "serious concerns" about China's counternarcotics efforts.
According to the US Treasury Department's readout of the conversation, the two officials discussed the bilateral economic relationship, and Bessent stated that the Trump administration is committed to trade and economic policies that protect the US economy and warned about China's economic "imbalances" and "unfair" policies. The two officials reportedly agreed to continue communicating in the future.
US President Donald Trump previously imposed a 10% tariff on Chinese imports to hold the country "accountable" for its promises to "halt the flood of poisonous drugs into the United States," which Beijing condemned, claiming that the two countries achieved "remarkable results" in fentanyl control.