Will Talk With Xi Jinping About China Smuggling Fentanyl Into US Via Venezuela: Trump

Last Updated:October 24, 2025, 02:57 IST

Trump accused China of smuggling fentanyl into the US via Venezuela, plans to discuss it with Xi Jinping in South Korea amid rising tariffs and ongoing trade war tensions.

US President Donald Trump at the White House. (White House/X)

US President Donald Trump on Thursday accused China of smuggling fentanyl into the US through Venezuela and said this will be one of the issues that will be discussed in next week’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Responding to a question if China was smuggling fentanyl into the US via Venezuela, Trump said: “They are doing that. But they are paying a 20% tariff right now because of fentanyl. That’s billions and billions of dollars. On November 1, the tariff on China goes to 157%, which is record-setting territory. It’s not sustainable for them…"

“I’m meeting with President Xi… The first question I’m going to be asking him about is fentanyl. They make $100 million selling fentanyl into our country. They lose $100 billion with the 20% tariff. So it’s not a good business proposition… It’s one of the things we’re talking about… They pay a very big penalty for doing that… We’ll see what happens at the end of next week… I’m meeting with President Xi, actually, in South Korea," he added.

Previously, in an interview with Fox Business Network, Trump was asked whether the steep tariffs levied by both countries could continue indefinitely.

“It’s not sustainable," he said, adding, “That’s what the number is, it’s probably not, you know, it could stand but they forced me to do that."

The comments come as the trade war between the world’s two largest economies continues to rattle global markets. Washington’s import duties on Chinese goods have climbed to as high as 145%, sparking concerns about supply chains and slowing growth.

Although both sides agreed to a 90-day truce earlier this year, that pause is set to expire on November 10 unless extended.

Previously, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has suggested that President Trump could eventually decide to ramp up the measures.

“If you read the sanctions and look at them, they’re pretty hefty," she said while citing reports that China and India — the largest buyers of Russian oil — were scaling back their purchases.

“It’s full court press for sure, and we expect that these sanctions are going to do harm," she said.

On Wednesday, the Trump administration imposed sanctions on Russia’s two largest oil companies over Russia-Ukraine war.

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