In a firm rejection of mounting American pressure, China has refused to end oil imports from Russia and Iran, asserting that its energy security and national interests take precedence over any external demands. The move underscores Beijing’s growing resistance to Washington’s efforts to isolate Moscow and Tehran through economic sanctions.
Following two days of U.S.-China trade talks in Stockholm, the Chinese Foreign Ministry released a statement on social platform X, calling Washington’s demand “coercive” and reaffirming Beijing’s commitment to safeguarding its strategic autonomy.
“China will always ensure its energy supply in ways that serve our national interests. Coercion and pressuring will not achieve anything,” the ministry declared.
This response comes amid U.S. threats to impose a 100% tariff on Chinese goods if China fails to comply with restrictions on Russian and Iranian energy. Though no final decision has been made, the issue remains a key obstacle in resolving broader trade disagreements between the two economic giants.
Oil Trade at the Center of Geopolitical Frictions
Chinese officials emphasized that energy cooperation with Russia and Iran is integral to national development and will not be compromised by foreign influence. As geopolitical alignments continue to shift, discounted crude oil from Moscow and Tehran has become a valuable asset in China’s energy portfolio.
The U.S. views these imports as undermining sanctions, particularly those aimed at curbing Russia’s war in Ukraine and Iran’s support for militant networks in the Middle East. A recent U.S. Energy Information Administration report revealed that up to 90% of Iran’s oil exports now go to China, averaging over 1 million barrels per day. Additionally, China’s imports of Russian oil surged by 20% in April 2025, reinforcing its role as a key buyer sustaining sanctioned economies.
Washington suspects China is circumventing restrictions via a “dark fleet” of oil tankers conducting ship-to-ship transfers to mask the origin of Iranian crude, as highlighted in a CBS investigation.
Despite Beijing’s defiance, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent signaled that negotiations remain active. “The Chinese take their sovereignty very seriously,” he said, adding that progress is still possible ahead of a potential Trump–Xi summit later this year.
Meanwhile, U.S. lawmakers are preparing for a stronger legislative response. Senator Lindsey Graham has introduced a bill allowing for tariffs of up to 500% on nations buying Russian energy, arguing that such imports are “fueling Putin’s war machine.” The proposal has bipartisan backing, with 84 Senate co-sponsors and a companion bill in the House.
