The US intelligence has classified India as a “state actor” alongside China in supplying precursor chemicals for fentanyl production, contributing to over 52,000 deaths in the US in the past year. President Trump is prioritizing the opioid crisis and has imposed tariffs on countries not adequately addressing the issue while negotiating a free trade deal with India.
The United States has identified India, alongside China, as a “state actor” facilitating the supply of precursor chemicals for illicit fentanyl production, according to the Annual Threat Assessment (ATA) from the US intelligence community. Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, is the most dangerous drug trafficked into the United States, leading to over 52,000 American deaths in the year leading to October 2024.
The report indicates that transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) often rely on state actors such as India and China for essential precursors and equipment necessary for drug manufacturing. While China continues to be the primary source of these chemicals and pill-pressing machinery, India has now been implicated as a significant contributor.
This marks the first instance of the United States categorizing India at the same level as China regarding its involvement in the supply chain for opioid manufacturing. In previous reports, India was acknowledged as a secondary source, while China remained the predominant supplier.
This revelation emerges as President Donald Trump prioritizes combatting the opioid crisis within his foreign policy agenda. Recently, he vowed to eliminate the fentanyl epidemic in the United States, underscoring his administration’s commitment to addressing this crisis.
On February 1, President Trump imposed an additional 10 percent tariff on Chinese imports for their inadequate action against fentanyl trafficking. Furthermore, he introduced 25 percent duties on Canada and Mexico due to insufficient border enforcement. Trump has also mentioned the possibility of reciprocal duties on various nations under his “Liberation Day” tariffs, effective April 2, while India is negotiating a free trade agreement with the United States to mitigate these potential tariffs.
The identification of India as a key player in the fentanyl precursor supply chain highlights the growing international dimension of the opioid crisis that the United States is facing. With President Trump emphasizing the need for aggressive foreign policy measures against this threat, including tariffs, the geopolitical landscape surrounding drug trafficking is rapidly evolving. The outcomes of trade negotiations between India and the United States will be crucial in determining future relationships and actions regarding fentanyl trafficking.
Original Source: www.ndtv.com
