China’s LIFELINE: Funding Enemies?

Trump’s Treasury Secretary just threatened China with crushing 100% tariffs if they continue buying sanctioned oil from Russia and Iran, marking the most aggressive escalation in US-China relations since the President’s return to office.

At a Glance

• U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has threatened 100% secondary tariffs on any country purchasing sanctioned Russian or Iranian oil, with China as the primary target.
• The threat elevates U.S.-China trade talks beyond tariffs into a direct national security confrontation over China’s support for U.S. adversaries.
• The move follows President Trump’s 50-day ultimatum for a Ukraine peace deal, raising the stakes for Chinese energy purchases.
• China’s continued oil purchases from sanctioned nations provide critical economic lifelines to Moscow and Tehran.

The Trump Administration Takes the Gloves Off

Finally, a President and a Treasury Secretary willing to call out China for its backdoor support of our enemies. In a recent interview, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent put Beijing on notice: stop funding Putin’s war machine and Iran’s terrorist regime, or face devastating economic consequences. For too long, China has played both sides, propping up sanctioned regimes while pretending to be a good-faith partner in trade. The era of weakness is over.

Bessent’s threat of 100% secondary tariffs is a direct follow-up to President Trump’s 50-day ultimatum to Russia. It sends a clear message: if you help our enemies, you are not our friend, and you will pay a steep price for access to the American market.

China’s Economic Lifeline to America’s Enemies

The numbers don’t lie. China has become the primary economic lifeline for both Russia and Iran, systematically circumventing U.S. sanctions by purchasing massive quantities of their oil at a discount. This provides billions in hard currency that Moscow uses to fund its war in Ukraine and that Tehran uses to support its proxy terrorist groups across the Middle East.

This isn’t just about trade; it’s about national security. Every barrel of oil China buys from these rogue states is a direct blow to American foreign policy and global stability. As the Atlantic Council has documented, this “axis of evasion” is a deliberate strategy to undermine Western sanctions.

A New Era of “America First” Enforcement

The threat to implement secondary tariffs represents a fundamental shift in how America enforces its foreign policy. Unlike primary sanctions, secondary sanctions punish third-party countries that do business with our enemies. This is the kind of powerful leverage that previous administrations were too timid to use against an economic giant like China.

#NewsFatafat | Treasury Secretary #ScottBessent says the U.S. is likely to extend its trade deadline with China as both sides pursue deeper negotiations. Bessent will meet #Chinese officials in Stockholm next week to discuss trade and Beijing’s purchases of sanctioned #Russian… pic.twitter.com/ack9IOMJK0

— ET NOW (@ETNOWlive) July 23, 2025

The 100% tariff threat is an unmistakable message: you can do business with America, or you can do business with our enemies, but you can’t do both. This is the “America First” doctrine in action, forcing our adversaries—and our allies—to finally choose a side.