China Responds to US Tariff Threats Concerning Russia Trade

In response to comments made by US Senator Lindsey Graham regarding the imposition of severe tariffs on nations like China and India if they continue their trade relations with Russia, Lin Jian, spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, articulated China's steadfast stance on the Ukraine crisis. He asserted that China believes in dialogue and negotiation as the only practical approach to resolving the ongoing conflict. Lin firmly opposed unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction, highlighting that tariff wars do not create winners and that coercion and pressure will yield no positive outcomes.

The proposed legislation by Senators Graham and Richard Blumenthal seeks to target nations importing Russian energy resources, suggesting a significant policy move that could affect a large portion of Russia's economic backing from countries like China and India, who are key players in the trade of Russian oil and gas. The senators expressed their intention to advance this bill for a Senate vote before the upcoming August recess. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump indicated that if a resolution to the Ukraine conflict is not achieved within 50 days, the US will respond with further punitive tariffs on Russia. During the briefing, Lin reiterated China's hope for fostering an environment that encourages a political resolution to the crisis and advocates for peaceful negotiations.