Relatives of Americans who lost their lives to fentanyl overdoses submitted a petition to the office of the United States Trade Representative, seeking an investigation into China's involvement in the production of the dangerous narcotic, according to a Thursday report by Reuters.
The news outlet revealed the action was taken under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, permitting restrictions against countries which burden, damage, or restrict U.S. commerce.
The complainants are requesting $50 billion in sanctions be placed on the regime in Beijing, claiming it has not adequately overseen the export of precursor chemicals used to produce the synthetic opioid. They argue this negligence has led to trillions of dollars in losses related to healthcare costs, law enforcement expenses, lost productivity, and the wrongful deaths of many of the drug’s users.
Inquiries by Reuters this year have found that Chinese chemical companies frequently sell online and export the materials needed to synthesize fentanyl to the U.S. and countries known to distribute the illicit substance.
China’s embassy in Washington did not respond for comment on the matter.
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