China rejects US pressure on oil purchases “Coercion will not achieve anything”

In ongoing trade negotiations aimed at easing tensions between the world’s two largest economies, China has firmly pushed back against U.S. demands to halt oil imports from Iran and Russia, declaring that "coercion and pressuring will not achieve anything."

Following two days of intense talks in Stockholm, China’s Foreign Ministry responded sharply on July 30 to the U.S. threat of imposing a 100% tariff should Beijing continue its energy purchases from the sanctioned countries. The ministry emphasised that China "will always ensure its energy supply in ways that serve our national interests" and vowed to "firmly defend its sovereignty, security and development interests," Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

The statement highlights China’s confidence and unwillingness to yield on key energy and foreign policy issues, despite broader signals of goodwill from both sides about reaching a trade deal. It underscores Beijing’s message that economic negotiations cannot override its fundamental sovereignty.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent acknowledged China’s stance after the talks, noting, “the Chinese take their sovereignty very seriously.” He clarified that Washington does not intend to "impede on their sovereignty," and suggested that China’s readiness to pay a tariff is part of its firm negotiating position.

Analysts caution that while the U.S. aims to curtail revenue streams for Russia and Iran to weaken their military actions in Ukraine and the Middle East, respectively, the approach risks undermining progress in trade talks. Gabriel Wildau, managing director at consultancy Teneo, expressed doubts that President Trump would follow through on the extreme tariff threat, warning that such a move could derail recent progress and jeopardise any upcoming deal with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

By Vugar Khalilov