US warned China of 100% duties

At the end of two days of U.S.-China trade talks in Stockholm, Bessent expressed U.S. displeasure with China's continued purchases of sanctioned Iranian oil and the sale of more than $15 billion worth of dual-use goods to Russia that contribute to Moscow's war against Ukraine, Reuters duties

Bessent said legislation in the U.S. Congress that allows Trump to impose duties of up to 500 percent on countries that buy sanctioned Russian oil could force U.S. allies to take similar measures to deprive Russia of energy revenues.

“So I think everyone who buys Russian oil subject to sanctions should be prepared for that,” he emphasized.

According to Bessent, Chinese officials responded that their country is a sovereign state with energy needs, and the purchase of oil will be based on the country's domestic policy.

"The Chinese take their sovereignty extremely seriously. We have no intention of infringing on it - that's why they prefer to pay 100 percent duty," Bessent noted.

He warned his counterpart, Vice Premier He Lifeng, that China's continued sale to Russia of goods that end up being used to make weapons would hurt its efforts to build trade relations with Europe.

“I pointed out to them that this is very damaging to their image in Europe because they are promoting war on the European border,” Bessent added.

Photo: Ukrpravda.