A report reveals that the Trump administration once considered using India’s pharmaceutical supply chain as a pretext to raise tariffs — linking New Delhi to America’s fentanyl crisis despite limited evidence. U.S. intelligence had labelled India the second-largest source of precursor chemicals after China, but Indian officials cooperated swiftly, expanding intelligence-sharing and joint operations to shut down illegal exporters. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also pushed for a G20-level initiative targeting synthetic drugs, signalling alignment rather than hostility. As Washington debates new trade barriers, India’s record — as the “pharmacy of the world” and a willing counter-narcotics partner — complicates any attempt to turn fentanyl into a trade weapon.