China condemns US sanctions on those allegedly involved in fentanyl trade

BEIJING (Reuters) -China condemns U.S. sanctions on Chinese firms and individuals over their alleged involvement in fentanyl trade, and has lodged representations with Washington, the Chinese foreign ministry said on Monday.

“China, in the spirit of humanitarianism, has been trying to help the U.S. as best it can,” spokesperson Wang Wenbin told a regular news briefing.

Wang said repeated moves by the United States to impose sanctions “seriously undermines” bilateral cooperation in drug control.

Washington on Friday imposed sanctions on two entities based in China and four Chinese nationals, accusing them of supplying precursor chemicals to drug cartels in Mexico for the production of illicit fentanyl intended for the United States.

(Reporting by Joe Cash, Ethan Wang and Liz Lee; Editing by Alex Richardson and Barbara Lewis)