FBI Director Kash Patel Visits China to Tackle Fentanyl Flow After Summit

Beijing – FBI Director Kash Patel made a discreet visit to China last week to discuss fentanyl control and related law enforcement issues, following the high-profile summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. The visit, which lasted about a day, was not officially announced by either the US or Chinese authorities.

According to sources familiar with the trip, Patel arrived in Beijing on Friday and held discussions with senior Chinese officials on Saturday. While details of the meetings remain limited, the discussions reportedly focused on the ongoing fentanyl crisis and coordination between US and Chinese law enforcement agencies.

The visit comes after the Trump-Xi summit, where both leaders expressed a “consensus” on tackling the flow of fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid that has become the leading cause of overdose deaths in the United States. Following the summit, President Trump announced a halving of tariffs on Chinese goods—from 20% to 10%—as part of the broader agreement, signaling a shift in the US approach toward punitive measures.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that the new consensus would be implemented through a bilateral working group, though it is unclear whether Patel discussed these details during his visit. Chinese officials have strongly defended their record on fentanyl, emphasizing their regulatory measures on precursor chemicals used in its production. Beijing has criticized Washington for using the issue as “blackmail.”

The Trump-Xi deal also included wider trade measures. China agreed to resume purchases of US soybeans and paused export curbs on rare earth elements, which are critical for modern technologies. The coordination on fentanyl is seen as part of a broader effort to improve bilateral relations and address pressing global concerns.

While Patel’s visit was brief and low-profile, it reflects the ongoing urgency the US places on combating the fentanyl crisis and underscores the need for closer international collaboration to address the production and distribution of deadly synthetic opioids.