Amid reciprocal tariff, NITI Aayog suggests 'dual-track approach' in India-US trade
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The Print
43 minutes ago
- The Print
The US-China dispute over fentanyl drug & why Japan is caught in the crossfire
Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, is a major driver of the US opioid crisis, contributing to tens of thousands of overdose deaths annually. The US-China fentanyl conflict stems from allegations that Beijing insufficiently regulates exports of precursor chemicals for fentanyl, with US officials claiming Chinese firms knowingly sell these precursors to drug cartels. He emphasised that the issue will not 'impact Japan-US relations or trade talks'. New Delhi: Japan's Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya has dismissed a report linking Japan to trafficking of fentanyl to the US amid ongoing tensions between Beijing and Washington over the fentanyl crisis. A Japan-based news platform, Nikkei Asia, in a June report, raised concerns about Firsky KK, a company registered in the Japanese city of Nagoya, allegedly linked to a Chinese trafficking network. The report suggests that fentanyl precursors were likely shipped through this base to the US. However, at a press conference on 27 June, 2025, Takeshi Iwaya dismissed the Nikkei report's implications, stating, 'Japan will never tolerate the manufacture, sale, possession, use, or unauthorised import and export of illegal drugs, including synthetic drugs.' He added, 'At this stage, I do not think this will have any impact on Japan-US relations or talks.' Japan's Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato similarly denied any significant connection to fentanyl trafficking, stating, 'No fentanyl has been seized at Japan's borders in the 6 years through 2024.' Kato clarified that this includes both finished fentanyl and precursor chemicals. According to the Nikkei report, Firsky KK, registered by Chinese national Xia Fengzhi, was linked to Hubei Amarvel Biotech, a Wuhan-based chemical producer flagged by US authorities in 2023 and January 2025 for the production of fentanyl precursors. A New York federal court convicted two of Hubei's executives in January 2025 for conspiring to smuggle fentanyl precursors into the US. The indictment revealed that Hubei advertised and sold precursor chemicals, disguising shipments as legal products, such as dog food, nuts, or motor oil. Also read: Fentanyl precursors labelled as Vit C, shipped to US, then Mexico. Inside US indictment of 2 Surat firms US response On 26 June, US Ambassador to Japan George Glass posted on X, accusing the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) of deliberately fueling the fentanyl crisis and emphasising the need for international cooperation to curb the trafficking of fentanyl and its precursor chemicals from China. The post suggested collaboration with Japan to halt the trans-shipment of these precursors to protect both nations. In response, Chinese Ambassador to Japan Wu Jianghao defended his country's stance Friday, stating that China maintains the world's 'strictest rules' and the 'largest number of controlled substances'. Wu questioned the US approach, asking, 'If the US cares about the fentanyl problem, why doesn't it formally regulate all fentanyl-like substances?' The Trump administration imposed a 20 percent tariff specifically to address the fentanyl crisis, alongside other tariffs, including a 125 percent reciprocal tariff and tariffs ranging from 7.5 percent to 100 percent on Chinese imports. The total tariff rate on China reached 145 percent in some cases due to retaliatory measures. On 2 April, Trump announced a 24 percent 'reciprocal' tariff on Japanese goods—paused for 90 days to allow negotiations—alongside a baseline 10 percent tariff and a 25 percent tariff on automobiles and other goods that have remained in place. Expressing his frustration at the difficulty of penetrating Japan's auto market, Trump said in a Fox Business interview aired Sunday, 'We give Japan no cars. They won't take our cars, and yet we take millions and millions of their cars into the United States. It's not fair. And I explained that to Japan, and they understood it. And we have a big deficit with Japan, and they understand that, too.' Japanese trade envoy Ryosei Akazawa has been making frequent trips to Washington, pushing for the removal of all tariffs, including on cars. After Trump's Friday interview, Akazawa posted on X early Monday (Tokyo time) that both sides had agreed to meet again, indicating it was time for more trade negotiations. (Edited by Madhurita Goswami) Also read: Over 560 kg cocaine seized. What we know so far about one of Delhi police's biggest drug busts
India Gazette
43 minutes ago
- India Gazette
Jaishankar calls India-US defence ties 'most consequential' during Pentagon meet with US Defence Secretary
Washington DC [US], July 2 (ANI): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth at the Pentagon, where he highlighted the strategic importance of India-US defence ties, describing them as 'one of the most consequential pillars' of the bilateral relationship. Speaking during the meeting at the Pentagon, Jaishankar said, 'I am here with you at the Pentagon because we believe that our defence partnership is, today, truly one of the most consequential.' The meeting comes on the heels of the Quad Foreign Ministers' Meeting (QFMM) in Washington, marking another key engagement in a series of high-level India-US interactions. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth expressed enthusiasm about the growing defence partnership between the two countries. He highlighted the integration of US defence systems into India's armed forces and outlined the goal of expanding industrial cooperation and co-production networks. 'The US is very pleased for the successful integration of many US defence items... building on this progress, we hope we can complete several major pending US defence sales to India, expand our shared defence industrial cooperation and co-production networks, strengthen interoperability... and formally sign a new framework of US-India major defence partnership,' Hegseth said. He added, 'We are eager to work alongside you to realise our shared goals. They are deep and ongoing. The visit today marks an important milestone in the ongoing series of high-level engagements between our two great countries.' During Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the US in February this year, he and then-US President Donald Trump announced plans to sign a new ten-year Framework for the US-India Major Defence Partnership. Both leaders had also welcomed the significant integration of US-origin defence equipment into India's military inventory. This includes platforms such as the C-130J Super Hercules, C-17 Globemaster III, P-8I Poseidon aircraft, CH-47F Chinooks, MH-60R Seahawks, AH-64E Apaches, Harpoon anti-ship missiles, M777 howitzers, and MQ-9B drones. Additionally, the two sides had announced plans to pursue new procurements and co-production agreements for Javelin Anti-Tank Guided Missiles and Stryker Infantry Combat Vehicles in India to rapidly meet India's defence requirements this year. (ANI)
India Today
44 minutes ago
- India Today
Jaishankar calls India-US defence ties 'truly consequential' at Pentagon
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said the India-US defence partnership is one of the most important parts of the two countries' relationship during his visit to the Pentagon in Washington.'I am here with you at the Pentagon because we believe that our defence partnership is, today, truly one of the most consequential,' Jaishankar told US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth during their meeting, underlining the critical weight India places on military cooperation with meeting came on the heels of the Quad Foreign Ministers' Meeting (QFMM), marking yet another milestone in the rapid intensification of US-India engagement across the Indo-Pacific. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth expressed enthusiasm about the growing defence partnership between the two countries. He highlighted the integration of US defence systems into India's armed forces and outlined the goal of expanding industrial cooperation and co-production echoed Jaishankar's sentiment, welcoming the minister and lauding the progress made in integrating American defence systems into India's armed forces. He emphasised future ambitions, including finalising key defence deals and expanding joint production US is very pleased for the successful integration of many US defence items... building on this progress, we hope we can complete several major pending US defence sales to India, expand our shared defence industrial cooperation and co-production networks, strengthen interoperability... and formally sign a new framework of US-India major defence partnership," Hegseth said.'We are eager to work alongside you to realise our shared goals,' Hegseth added. 'They are deep and ongoing. The visit today marks an important milestone in the ongoing series of high-level engagements between our two great countries.'Jaishankar also met US Secretary Marc Rubio on the sidelines of Quad Foreign Ministers' meeting. "Pleasure meeting US @SecRubio this afternoon on the sidelines of the Quad Foreign Ministers' Meeting. We discussed our bilateral partnership -- trade, security, critical technologies, connectivity, energy, and mobility -- and shared views on regional and global developments," Jaishankar said.- EndsWith inputs from ANITune InMust Watch
