Bloomberg reported on the threat to relations between the United States and China due to duties

The announcement by US President Donald Trump about the imposition of duties on goods from countries that maintain trade ties with Iran could worsen Washington's relations with China and disrupt their trade truce. This was reported by Bloomberg on January 13.

"According to Bloomberg Economics, the average rate of US customs duties on Chinese goods decreased from 40.8% to 30.8% after the conclusion of [the agreement between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the summit in South Korea] in October [2025]. The introduction of new duties could derail this agreement and cast doubt on Trump's plans for a visit to Beijing in April," the article says.

It is assumed that Trump may make an exception for China in an attempt to avoid damage to the American economy amid warnings from his administration about the risks.

An attempt to increase pressure on Tehran through countries trading with it risks provoking a new round of escalation with Beijing, as Iran is a "strategically important partner" for it. According to the agency, China buys about 90% of Iran's exported oil, more than 1 million barrels per day, which is vital for the economies of both countries.

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On January 12, Trump announced the imposition of duties on countries that trade with Iran. In addition, White House spokeswoman Caroline Leavitt said that the American leader would not be afraid to use military force against Tehran if circumstances required it. She confirmed that one of the representatives of the Iranian government contacted Trump's special envoy Steven Witkoff and expressed a position significantly different in tone from Tehran's public statements.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said on January 13 that China intends to firmly defend its legitimate rights and interests in the event that the United States imposes duties of 25% for cooperation with Iran. She also noted that China opposes any illegal unilateral sanctions on weapons. According to her, Beijing is ready to use available mechanisms to protect its national interests.

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