China Defends Its Russian Oil Purchases after Trump Signals Possible New Tariffs

TMTPOST -- China on Friday defended its purchases of Russian oil after the Trump administration signaled it could impose new tariffs on one of the world’s leading economies for its oil trade with Russia.

Credit：Xinhua News Agency

Commenting on U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent threat of secondary tariffs, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun repeated China’s stance on oil purchases from Russia, stressing the legitimacy.

“China’s position on this issue is consistent and clear. It is legitimate and lawful for China to engage in economic, trade and energy cooperation with other countries, including Russia. We will continue to take energy supply measures that are right for China based on our national interests,” said Guo.

Guo made the comments after Trump earlier this week said he could punish China with extra tariffs over its purchases of sanctioned Russian oil, just as his attack on India. The president on Wednesday hinted at the possibility of the new tariffs.

Pressed by a question on penalizing China for the same reason, he replied “may happen” after saying he expected to announced more secondary sanctions with the aim to press Russia to end its war in Ukraine

“I mean I don’t know. I can’t tell you yet. But I can — we did it with — we did it with India. We’re doing it probably with a couple of others. One of them could be China,” Trump said in the White House. He didn’t give further details.

But White House trade adviser Peter Navarro the same day sent signals conflicting Trump’s, suggesting Washington is unlikely to levy additional tariffs on China because it would shoot itself in the foot. “Let’s see what happens,” Navarro told reporters on Wednesday. “We have over 50% tariffs on China. We don’t want to get to a point where we hurt ourselves.”

Guo’s comments on Friday marks the second time that China’s Foreign Ministry expressed Beijing’s stance on the Russian oil trade and defended its legal interests in around a week.

Guo, as the spokesperson with the ministry, last week has responded to U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’ warning. Bessent said he has warned Chinese officials that continued purchases of Russian oil would lead to hefty tariffs as the Congress has been moving forward relevant legislation.

After the latest round of U.S.-China trade talks in Stockholm from July 28 to 29, Bessent said he expressed U.S. displeasure at China’s purchases of sanctioned Iranian oil and its sales of over $15 billion worth of dua-use technology goods to Russia that have bolstered its war against Ukraine. He noted U.S. legislation authoring tariffs up to 50% on nations buying Russian oil would draw American rallies into taking similar steps. He also warned Chinese counterpart, Vice Premier He Lifeng, that China’s sales of goods to Russia will hurt its bit to boost trade ties with Europe.

In response to Bessent’s warning that China may face higher tariffs if it continues to buy Russian oil, Guo on July 30 stated China will take energy supply measures that are right for it based on our national interests. “Tariff wars have no winners. Coercion and pressuring cannot solve problems. China will firmly safeguard its own sovereignty, security and development interests,” said Guo.