China may offer cooperation on fentanyl as a diplomatic “icebreaker” to restart trade talks with the U.S., following months of economic pain and escalating tariffs under Trump’s second presidency. According to The Wall Street Journal,

Addressing the Trump team’s gripes over China’s role in the fentanyl crisis could let both sides soften trade stance.

Beijing is considering ways to address the Trump administration's concerns about China's role in the fentanyl trade, potentially providing an off-ramp from hostilities to allow trade talks to start, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday.