China has firmly rejected the United States’ proposal to impose tariffs on buyers of Russian oil, describing the move as “economic pressure.”
US President Donald Trump suggested hiking tariffs on countries purchasing Russian oil, including China and India, to stifle Moscow’s funding for its war in Ukraine.
“We firmly oppose the practice of constantly dragging China into the issue, and we firmly oppose the imposition of so-called economic pressure on China,” China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said during a regular press briefing. “China is neither the creator of this crisis nor a party to it,” he added.
The proposal was discussed during talks between US and European Union officials, where Trump suggested broadening tariffs on Russian oil buyers if the EU takes similar moves. According to a US official, Trump raised the possibility of tariffs ranging from 50% to 100%.
The move aims to pressure Russia into ending its war in Ukraine by reducing its oil revenues, which account for roughly one-third of its federal budget.
China has maintained that it is a neutral party in the conflict, regularly calling for an end to the fighting while accusing Western countries of prolonging the conflict by arming Ukraine.
Beijing and Moscow are key trading partners, and China has never denounced Russia’s war or called for the withdrawal of its troops. In fact, Russian President Vladimir Putin recently described the countries’ ties as being at an “unprecedented level” during talks with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.
China’s Foreign Ministry has justified its imports of Russian oil, stating that “it is legitimate and lawful for China to conduct normal economic, trade and energy cooperation with all countries around the world, including Russia.”
Beijing has vowed to continue adopting reasonable energy security measures in accordance with its national interests.
The proposed tariffs could significantly impact China’s economy, particularly if the US imposes 100% tariffs on Chinese exports.
China has already faced trade tensions with the US, and further escalation could exacerbate the situation. Moreover, the proposal could also affect global trade dynamics, given China’s significant role in the global economy.
US and EU officials have been discussing further sanctions on Russia’s shadow fleet of tankers, as well as restrictions on its banks, financial sector, and major oil companies.
The US has already raised its tariffs on Indian imports to 50% due to the country’s purchases of Russian oil. EU member states have also been discussing secondary sanctions against countries such as China and India for their purchase of Russian oil and gas.
“We’re ready to go, ready to go right now, but we’re only going to do this if our European partners step up with us,” a US official said, highlighting the need for coordinated action with European allies.
The US and EU are exploring various options to pressure Russia, but the challenge lies in securing agreement among all member states, including Hungary, which has previously blocked drastic measures targeting Russia’s energy sector.
The situation highlights the complex geopolitical dynamics at play, with China walking a fine line between its trade relationships and its stance on the conflict in Ukraine.
As the US and EU consider further economic measures against Russia, China’s position is likely to come under increasing scrutiny. The implications of potential tariffs on Russian oil buyers, including China and India, will be closely watched in the coming days.