Story perspectives

Arrests, drug bust precede Trump-Xi summit; China caps chemical exports

5/11/2026

Summary

Story summary

Three Americans and two Chinese nationals were arrested in April in the United States and China, days before President Donald Trump’s Beijing visit.
Authorities seized the synthetic opioids protonitazene and bromazolam during the raids.
China imposed export limits on 13 chemicals used to make drugs in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will meet officials in Japan, South Korea and China before the Trump-Xi summit.

1 of 1

Story summary

Three Americans and two Chinese nationals were arrested in April in the United States and China, days before President Donald Trump’s Beijing visit.
Authorities seized the synthetic opioids protonitazene and bromazolam during the raids.
China imposed export limits on 13 chemicals used to make drugs in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will meet officials in Japan, South Korea and China before the Trump-Xi summit.