China issued a warning against linking tariffs to purchases of Russian oil following the US House of Representatives' passage of the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act 2026. The legislation authorizes President Donald Trump to impose sanctions on Russia and steep tariffs on major buyers of Russian energy, a move China opposes as it continues to purchase Iranian oil despite US sanctions, according to livemint.com.
The warning from China came as a response to the US law passed this week, which aims to tighten economic pressure on Russia and Iran by targeting countries that import their energy. China has repeatedly opposed unilateral sanctions and rejected the concept of 'long-arm jurisdiction,' which allows one country to impose its laws beyond its borders. The Chinese government emphasized that it will not accept such extraterritorial measures, reinforcing its stance against the US sanctions regime, livemint.com reported.
This development highlights ongoing tensions between the US and China over sanctions policy and energy trade. The US has sought to isolate Russia economically amid geopolitical conflicts, while China maintains its energy imports from sanctioned countries. The legislation marks a significant step in US efforts to enforce sanctions globally, potentially affecting international trade relations and energy markets. China’s position reflects broader resistance among some nations to US-led sanctions, underscoring challenges in global diplomatic and economic coordination, per livemint.com.
The Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act 2026 was passed by the US House of Representatives on September 17, 2026, authorizing new sanctions and tariffs on Russian energy buyers. China’s official response was issued the same day, signaling its firm opposition to the US measures, according to livemint.com.