China's Foreign Ministry has condemned a new US law that threatens tariffs of up to 100% on major buyers of Russian oil and gas, calling it an illegal unilateral measure without United Nations backing. The legislation, signed by President Donald Trump on September 18, also extends the Iran Sanctions Act by five years.
China's Foreign Ministry wasted no time responding to Washington's latest sanctions push. On September 17, spokesperson Guo Jiakun condemned the newly enacted US legislation targeting Russia and Iran, calling it an illegal unilateral measure that lacks United Nations Security Council approval.
The timing matters. China is one of the world's largest importers of Russian oil and gas, putting it directly in the path of a law that threatens tariffs on major buyers of Russian energy exports.
What the law does
The legislation, formally titled the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, cleared the House of Representatives on September 16 with a 262-159 vote. Trump signed it into law on September 18, after earlier Senate approval.
Two things follow from the bill. First, it expands US sanctions against Russia by authorizing tariffs of up to 100% on countries that rank among the top importers of Russian oil and gas. Second, it extends the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996 for another five years, pushing its expiration to 2031.
Washington frames the measures as economic pressure meant to cut into Russia's energy revenue amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The US has also targeted networks that help Russia evade existing sanctions.
Beijing pushes back
Guo Jiakun said China's normal economic and trade relationships with other countries are not intended to harm any third party and should not face external disruption.
China has consistently opposed US sanctions against both Russia and Iran, framing them as extraterritorial legal overreach. Its core objection: these are unilateral American measures, not multilateral actions authorized by the UN Security Council, where China holds veto power.
Source: Crypto Briefing
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