According to Bloomberg News, China has firmly stated that its imports of oil from Russia are legitimate, responding to potential new tariffs from the United States. This comes after the U.S. imposed secondary levies on India for its energy purchases from Moscow.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry emphasized that engaging in normal economic and energy cooperation with all nations, including Russia, is both lawful and justified. They reiterated their commitment to implementing energy security measures aligned with national interests.
This week, former President Donald Trump hinted at possible punitive measures against China due to its ongoing oil transactions with Russia. He mentioned that such actions “may happen,” while also expressing a desire to facilitate peace talks regarding the conflict between Russia and Ukraine—viewing pressure on major Russian trade partners as part of this strategy.
In a significant diplomatic move, Russian President Vladimir Putin held extensive discussions with Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff at the Kremlin for nearly three hours. Trump later indicated there was a “very good chance” he would meet Putin soon but noted that no substantial progress had been made yet.
During his first conversation with Putin in several months, Chinese President Xi Jinping welcomed direct dialogue between the two leaders and outlined China’s perspective on Ukraine as a complex issue lacking straightforward solutions, according to reports by state broadcaster CCTV.
Despite Trump’s warnings regarding China’s oil imports from Russia, his advisor Peter Navarro downplayed the likelihood of imposing new tariffs on Chinese goods due to concerns about potential negative impacts on the U.S. economy. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent acknowledged during an interview that tariffs related to these oil purchases could be considered in future discussions.
Recent customs data revealed that China’s imports from Russia rose slightly in July to over $10 billion—the highest since March—though overall imports have decreased by 7.7% compared to last year’s figures during this same timeframe.
Tensions between the U.S. and China appear more stable following an agreement to pause high tariffs while both sides work towards negotiations for a broader deal aimed at extending their current truce set to expire soon.
