The EU might place sanctions on China for acquiring oil and gas from Russia if the US supports the action, according to a media report.
Citing unnamed sources, the Financial Times reported on Monday that the European Union is contemplating imposing secondary sanctions on China due to its ongoing procurement of Russian oil and gas.
The British newspaper stated that EU officials commenced discussions on the matter on Sunday. One source indicated that the talks are in a “very early stage.” The FT reports that Brussels wants “full backing of the US and co-ordination with Washington” before committing to any punitive measures against Beijing.
To that end, EU officials traveled to the US on Monday, and US Energy Secretary Chris Wright is scheduled to visit Brussels later in the week, the paper noted.
Following the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022, China has become the largest importer of Russian oil.
Earlier this year, the EU sanctioned several Chinese companies for purportedly supporting industries that aid the Russian military. Beijing denounced the move as “unreasonable” and accused the EU of applying “double standards.” China stressed that it strictly regulates dual-use goods and affirmed that it has not supplied any lethal weapons to parties involved in the Ukraine conflict.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent suggested on Sunday that the US and EU might impose further sanctions on countries purchasing Russian oil.
Beijing previously vowed to “ensure its energy supply” in ways that safeguard its interests, and warned that “tariff wars have no winners.”
Last month, US President Donald Trump increased tariffs on India to 50%, citing New Delhi’s continued purchase of Russian oil. Indian officials condemned the move as “unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable.” Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman stated last week that India would continue to buy Russian crude, emphasizing that the nation’s oil purchases are driven by its economic priorities and not external pressure.
Last week, during his four-day visit to China, Russian President Vladimir Putin cautioned the West against speaking to global economic powers like China and India in an “unacceptable” tone, asserting that pressure on Beijing and New Delhi is intended to impede their economic progress.
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