US Sanctions Target , Chinese Firms Involved With , Fentanyl Supply Chain.br BBC reports that 25 China-based firms and individuals br are facing United States sanctions for their alleged br production of chemicals used to produce fentanyl.br The news comes as fentanyl, a powerful opioid br prescribed as a painkiller and sedative, remainsbr at the center of an ongoing drug crisis in the U.S.br According to Attorney General br Merrick Garland, fentanyl's supply chain , "often starts with chemical companies in China".br AFP news agency reports that the Chinese foreign br ministry criticized the sanctions, claiming that the br fentanyl crisis remains rooted in America.br AFP news agency reports that the Chinese foreign br ministry criticized the sanctions, claiming that the br fentanyl crisis remains rooted in America.br Imposing pressure and sanctions br cannot solve the United States' br own problems. It will only create br obstacles in the China-U.S. br co-operation on drug control, Chinese Foreign Ministr, via AFP news agency.br According to the U.S. Treasury Department, the sanctions br are aimed at a "China-based network responsible for the br manufacturing and distribution" of precursors of fentanyl.br We know who is responsible br for poisoning the American br people with fentanyl, Merrick Garland, United States Attorney General, via BBC.br We know that this network br includes the cartels' leaders, br their drug traffickers, their money br launderers, their clandestine lab br operators, their security forces, br their weapons suppliers, br and their chemical suppliers, Merrick Garland, United States Attorney General, via BBC.br And we know that this br global fentanyl supply chain, br which ends with the deaths of br Americans, often starts with br chemical companies in China, Merrick Garland, United States Attorney General, via BBC.br And we know that this br global fentanyl supply chain, br which ends with the deaths of br Americans, often starts with br chemical companies in China, Merrick Garland, United States Attorney General, via BBC.