Hubei province launched a crackdown targeting fentanyl precursor trafficking in December, establishing a specialized task force following a directive from China's Ministry of Public Security. By February, the task force had investigated 22 cases and arrested seven suspects as part of the operation.

The crackdown resulted in the shutdown of more than 200 websites connected to precursor trafficking activities in the province. Twelve other people were subjected to coercive measures such as being summoned or detained, while four companies were penalized under the enforcement action.

Information from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency helped police in Wuhan discover that a company was selling precursor chemicals and stimulants. The person controlling the company was arrested in early December with cooperation from Shandong province police.

In another case, two people were arrested in Hubei province after suspects set up shell companies to sell drugs and chemicals that could be used to manufacture drugs overseas.

The crackdown operation followed an agreement by China at the end of October to take steps to stop the precursor trade in return for halving the fentanyl-related tariff on U.S. imports from China to 10%. The United States and China announced a one-year truce and agreed to roll back the fentanyl-specific tariff to 10% after President Trump met Chinese leader Xi Jinping in South Korea at the end of October.

President Donald Trump imposed a 10% tariff on China soon after taking office and later raised it to 20%. President Donald Trump imposed additional tariffs on China and other countries starting in April. China imposed its own tariffs in response.

Plans were underway for a second in-person meeting in Beijing around the beginning of the following month.