Beijing slams new US sanctions against Russia

The sweeping legislation envisions secondary restrictions on the largest buyers of Russian crude oil and natural gas China has condemned the latest expansion of US sanctions against Russia, including potential tariffs of up to 100% on major buyers of Russian energy, vowing to take “all necessary measures” to safeguard its national interests.

US President Donald Trump signed the sweeping legislation on Friday.

Among other measures, the bill authorizes secondary sanctions against the five largest buyers of Russian crude oil and natural gas.

It does not explicitly name major importers such as China or India.

Beijing strongly condemned the measure, with a Chinese Commerce Ministry spokesperson saying the country has “always opposed unilateral sanctions that lack the mandate of the UN,” as well as “the imposition of so-called secondary sanctions.” China has consistently conducted “economic and trade cooperation with other countries on the basis of equality and mutual benefit,” the spokesperson said, adding that such ties are “neither directed at third parties nor subject to interference or coercion by third parties.” Read more Trump signs new Russia sanctions bill China will closely monitor Washington’s actions and the “follow-up measures” stemming from its latest move.

Beijing reserves the right “to take all necessary measures to firmly safeguard [its] national sovereignty and development interests and the legitimate rights and interests of enterprises,” the spokesperson stated while expressing hopes that China and the US will be able to “maintain the stability of economic and trade relations through dialogue and consultation.” The latest anti-Russian measure was initially proposed by late Republican Senator and Russia hawk Lindsey Graham and Democrat Richard Blumenthal in April 2025.

In the year and a half of negotiations, it was significantly watered down, with the originally proposed 500% tariffs on countries that buy Russian energy cut down to 100%, while the actual levy rate can be set below that ceiling, according to the legislation.

Moscow has condemned the additional sanctions as an “unfriendly” move, which was bound to “complicate efforts to find a peaceful settlement in Ukraine,” according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.