China was alerted by Bessent regarding the potential repercussions of purchasing Russian oil
In a press conference on July 29, 2025, the minister announced that anyone buying Russian oil under sanctions should expect secondary tariffs, a statement reported by Interfax. The U.S., under President Donald J. Trump’s administration, has imposed a 25% tariff on imports from India due to its continued purchase of Russian oil, with a process in place to extend similar tariffs to other countries found to be importing Russian Federation oil directly or indirectly.
The minister did not provide specific details about the nature of the secondary tariffs, but the U.S. administration's firm stance is clear: it aims to penalise countries that support Russia’s economy through oil purchases. As of August 2025, China and other major trading partners have shown cautious responses to the U.S. imposition of trade tariffs and potential secondary sanctions targeting countries importing Russian oil. Given the U.S. approach, China, as a significant trading partner of Russia, is likely under close scrutiny by the U.S. and may face potential secondary sanctions or tariffs if it continues to import Russian oil. No public statement or specific retaliatory measures by China have been noted in the current data.
India, on the other hand, has been directly impacted by the 25% tariff. The U.S. administration has indicated that similar actions could be expanded to other countries importing Russian oil. The broader trade environment also includes additional reciprocal tariffs and export controls imposed by the U.S. on various goods, reflecting an intensified trade policy stance that could further complicate trade relationships with countries aligned differently on the Russia issue.
Trump initially announced a deadline of 50 days for Russia to agree to a ceasefire or a peaceful deal on Ukraine, with potential trade tariffs and secondary sanctions. However, he later reduced the deadline to 10 days, starting from July 29, 2025. The exact nature of the sanctions and their impact on Russian oil sales was not detailed in the statement.
When asked about the Chinese response to American warnings, the minister stated that China takes its sovereignty seriously. Trump is uncertain if the measures will influence Moscow, but the U.S. believes that the Russian side is interested in continuing the conflict. The U.S. expressed concern to China about the purchase of Iranian oil, which is under U.S. sanctions, by Beijing during the negotiations.
The potential trade tariffs and secondary sanctions, if imposed by the U.S., could affect Russia and possibly its trading partners. The situation remains dynamic with further U.S. actions possible based on ongoing assessments.
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