US President Donald Trump warned on Wednesday that China may face new tariffs if it continues to buy oil from Russia.
This follows recent action taken against India for the same reason, raising tensions in global trade just as the US tries to pressure Russia to end its war in Ukraine.
According to Reuters, Trump said, "Could happen," when asked about tariffs on China. "We did it with India. We're doing it probably with a couple of others. One of them could be China."
The warning comes after the US slapped India with a new 25% tariff on top of an earlier 25% already in place, doubling the duty on Indian goods to 50%. The reason? India's ongoing oil trade with Russia.
A White House executive order confirmed the move, stating India was "directly or indirectly importing Russian Federation oil."
Although China was not named in the order, Trump's comments suggest it could be next in line. "It may happen... I can't tell you yet," Trump said, leaving the door open for further penalties under what he called "secondary sanctions."
On being asked about Indian officials pointing to China buying Russian oil, Trump threatens a “lot more secondary sanctions”.
— Shubhangi Sharma (@ItsShubhangi) August 6, 2025
He’s clearly miffed and didn’t see India’s resistance coming. Talk about misreading the situation. pic.twitter.com/CC9bABzxiz
China Faces August 12 Tariff Deadline Amid Oil Dispute
Last week, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also warned China about possible tariffs if it doesn't change its oil trade practices.
Bessent's message was clear: countries helping Russia stay afloat economically could face financial consequences.
This tough stance contrasts with Trump's recent comments on trade talks with China. Just a day earlier, he said the US was close to a new trade deal with Beijing and that he might meet Chinese President Xi Jinping by the end of the year.
However, China faces an August 12 deadline to reach a final tariff agreement with the US, following talks held in May and June, WION said.
Meanwhile, India has pushed back strongly. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs called the added tariffs "unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable," and promised to protect the country's national interests.
"Our imports are based on market factors," India stated, noting that oil trade helps ensure energy security for 1.4 billion people.
The executive order imposing the extra 25% tariff on India clarified that this duty would be added to all existing import charges. It takes effect 21 days after signing, while the earlier 25% rate begins on August 7.
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