China has expressed strong opposition to Washington’s use of secondary sanctions, warning it will take “necessary measures” to shield its sovereignty, development interests, and businesses.

In a statement on Saturday, the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) said Beijing firmly opposes unilateral sanctions that lack UN authorisation or a basis in international law. The objection, it added, covers penalties aimed at countries that engage in normal trade with other nations.

The warning follows the signing of the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 on September 18. The US law tightens sanctions on Russia, extends those on Iran, and authorises tariffs of up to 100 per cent on third countries importing Russian oil or gas. Some observers have identified China as a potential target of these measures due to its energy and trade relations with Russia.

“China has always conducted normal economic and trade cooperation with countries around the world on the basis of equality and mutual benefit,” a MOFCOM spokesperson stated

The spokesperson emphasised that such cooperation is not directed against third parties and should not face interference or coercion.

The spokesperson added, “We will continue to closely monitor the US side’s subsequent actions and reserve the right to take all necessary measures,” referring to the need to protect China’s national sovereignty, developmental interests, and the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises.

Despite this, Beijing indicated its desire to maintain economic engagement with Washington, urging both sides to maintain stable trade relations through dialogue and consultation.

The warning comes as Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng leading a delegation to the United States for economic and trade consultations from September 19 to 23. According to MOFCOM, the talks will address economic and trade issues of mutual concern, guided by agreements previously reached by the leaders of both countries.

The latest consultations follow economic and trade discussions held in South Korea in May, which yielded agreements covering tariffs, non-tariff barriers, and two-way trade, including agricultural products.

Analysts in Chinabelieve the new round of talks could consolidate those agreements, address outstanding concerns, and reduce uncertainty for businesses and markets in both nations.

He Weiwen, a senior fellow at the Center for China and Globalisation, noted that continued consultations could provide a more predictable environment for businesses while establishing a regular channel for Beijing and Washington to manage differences.

Tariffs remain a central issue in the relationship between the world’s two largest economies. Given the extensive trade between China and the United States, changes in tariffs can significantly affect business costs, market access, and the stability of global supply chains.

China’s customs data indicates that trade between the two countries has remained stable in recent months. As of August, China’s imports and exports with the US had increased for five consecutive months, with bilateral trade reaching 2.76 trillion yuan in the first eight months of the year, an increase of 1.3 per cent.

The trade issue is also unfolding against a backdrop of wider tensions concerning technology and artificial intelligence. Chinese officials have rejected recent US accusations against Chinese AI companies, while experts in Beijing have advocated for greater China-US cooperation on AI security, governance, and standards.

Chinese analysts argue that maintaining stable economic relations between Beijing and Washington has implications beyond bilateral trade, particularly for global industrial and supply chains.

The issue has also been raised during recent diplomatic exchanges between high-ranking China and US government officials. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke by phone on Thursday, and officials from both sides have continued discussions on arrangements for further high-level engagement.

Wang stated that China-US relations had generally progressed along a path of constructive strategic stability and called for equality, respect, and mutual benefit in managing differences.

It is against this backdrop that Beijing is urging Washington to demonstrate its stated willingness to engage with concrete actions.

He Weiwen emphasised that both sides would need to adopt a rational and pragmatic approach and implement agreements already reached to reduce misunderstandings and prevent further escalation.

The MOFCOM spokesperson called on Washington to work with Beijing “in the same direction” to maintain stable economic and trade relations and contribute to the security of global industrial and supply chains.