BEIJING – China has said it 
opposes new U.S. legislation expanding sanctions on Russia and extending measures against Iran, vowing to protect its development interests.
A Commerce Ministry spokesperson said the measures amount to coercion lacking any basis in international law, and that China reserves the right to take countermeasures.
“We have noted the relevant developments. China has always opposed unilateral sanctions that lack authorization from the United Nations and a basis in international law, and opposes so-called secondary sanctions measures taken against other countries on the pretext of involving third parties,” the official said.
“China has always carried out normal economic and trade cooperation with all other countries on the basis of equality and mutual benefit. Such cooperation neither targets any third party nor is subject to disruption or coercion by any third party,” the spokesperson added.
The statement came after U.S. President Donald Trump signed the “Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026” into law on Friday, according to a White House release.
The legislation authorizes and expands sanctions, tariffs and prohibitions targeting Russia, while extending existing sanctions against Iran.
Among its provisions, the law allows the Trump administration to impose tariffs of up to 100 percent on goods from the five largest importers of Russian oil or natural gas. It also provides for sanctions against Russian officials, banks and vessels involved in transporting Russian energy.
The legislation further extends sanctions against Iran’s energy and defense sectors that were due to expire after the end of 2026.
The bill passed the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday by a vote of 262-159, after previously receiving Senate approval in an 86-11 vote.
The legislation was championed by the late Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who had earned notoriety for his ceaseless warmongering and a markedly strong alliance with the Israeli regime. Graham, known by critics as the “merchant of death,” died unexpectedly following a “sudden and brief illness” earlier this year.
Russia and Iran have consistently rejected such coercive economic measures. Tehran has warned that the sanctions amount to direct aggression and has said it will continue retaliatory measures against the United States.