Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng aired gripes about each other’s policy moves in a Friday call, underscoring trade tensions.

The Treasury Department, in a readout, said Mr. Bessent expressed “serious concerns” about Beijing’s counternarcotics efforts, a reference to precursor chemicals that flow from China to places like Mexico, where cartels use them to make fentanyl that kills American users.

President Trump recently slapped an additional 10% on Chinese goods, saying the communist government needs to crack down on the chemicals. 

China retaliated with 15% tariffs on certain U.S. goods and threatened to thwart companies like Google.

Mr. Bessent also highlighted “economic imbalances” and “unfair policies,” a reflection of longstanding complaints that Beijing subsidizes its industries and floods the world with cheap goods, knocking global trade off-balance and undercutting American workers.

Mr. Bessent, the department said, promised to “protect the American economy, the American worker and our national security.”

In turn, Mr. He said China was upset about the new U.S. tariffs and trade restrictions on China, though both sides agreed to an “in-depth” exchange of views on economic relations, according to Reuters.

Mr. Trump on Wednesday said he expects Chinese President Xi Jinping to visit him for trade talks, though he didn’t provide a timeline.

Mr. Xi last visited the U.S. in November 2023 to meet with President Biden and strike a deal on fentanyl enforcement.

• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.