China firmly opposes the sanctions imposed by the United States on Chinese entities and individuals for allegedly supplying equipment that manufactures fentanyl, said the country’s Ministry of Commerce on Tuesday.

The comment came after the US Treasury Department recently slapped sanctions on seven entities and six people based in China, accusing them of enabling counterfeit, fentanyl-laced pill production.

China has always enforced rigorous anti-drug measures and tried its best to help the US side cope with the problem of fentanyl in a humanitarian spirit, the ministry said in a statement.

Disregarding the facts, the US side accused Chinese entities and individuals of selling pill press machines and other equipment used to make fentanyl to the US and Mexico, and imposed sanctions on them, in an attempt to obscure the views of the public and shift the blame onto?China, the ministry said.

China firmly opposes the misconduct of the US and will protect the lawful rights and interests of Chinese entities and individuals, the ministry added.

wangkeju@chinadaily.com.cn