🛢️China defies U.S. pressure on Russian oil as Trump threatens tariff escalation
Economy
Foreign Policy
Trade & Commerce
China refuses to stop buying Russian and Iranian oil despite intense U.S. pressure and Trump's threats of 100% tariffs on countries trading with Russia. In August 2025, China essentially told America to "get lost" regarding oil sanctions, while Trump issued a 50-day ultimatum to Putin and threatened secondary tariffs on India and China. This standoff reveals the limits of U.S. economic pressure when major powers have their own energy interests, showing how global economic power is shifting away from Washington as countries resist American sanctions.
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Why This Matters
⛽ China imports 2.1 million barrels daily of discounted Russian crude
Sinopec and CNOOC secure $15 billion in annual energy savings. American refiners pay $43 more per barrel due to artificial scarcity.
🏦 JP Morgan facilitates yuan-ruble payments outside SWIFT system
Wall Street banks earned $240 million from sanctions-evasion infrastructure. Chinese digital currency transactions bypass dollar-denominated markets entirely.
📊 India increased Russian oil imports 847% since February 2022
New Delhi pays Moscow $13.7 billion annually for discounted energy. Sanctions created parallel trade networks instead of compliance.
🌏 Shanghai Petroleum Exchange trades Russian crude in yuan
Alternative currency systems reduce American financial leverage over global markets. Petrodollar dominance established through 1970s Saudi agreements faces systematic erosion.
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In August 2025, what did China refuse to do despite U.S. pressure?
Multiple Choice
Foreign Policy
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What does China's oil defiance reveal about global economic power?
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Trade & Commerce
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How does China's oil defiance affect U.S. sanctions strategy globally?
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Foreign Policy
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According to the topic, what should Americans track to understand energy independence progress?
Multiple Choice
Trade & Commerce
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On July 14, 2025, President Trump met with which NATO official when issuing his 50-day ultimatum to Russia?
Multiple Choice
Foreign Policy
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Which Russian official rejected Trump's ultimatum as "unacceptable"?
Multiple Choice
Foreign Policy
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Trump’s threatened 100 percent secondary tariffs are aimed at which of the following?
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Trade & Commerce
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Which two countries were most prominently named as targets for the secondary tariffs?
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Trade & Commerce
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When does the current US-China trade truce expire?
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Trade & Commerce
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What percentage of Iranian oil exports go to China, making US sanctions difficult to enforce?
Multiple Choice
Foreign Policy
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How should the U.S. respond when economic pressure fails against major trading partners?
Scenario
Foreign Policy
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China's oil defiance affects only energy markets, not broader geopolitical relationships.
True/False
Foreign Policy
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The 100% secondary tariffs threatened by President Trump would directly target Russian oil exports.
True/False
Trade & Commerce
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On July 14, 2025, President Trump issued a 50-day ultimatum for a ceasefire in Ukraine.
True/False
Foreign Policy