Trump’s Iran tariff threat risks reopening China rift
US President Donald Trump’s threat to impose a 25 percent tariff on any country that trades with Iran is raising fears of a renewed rift with China, Tehran’s biggest commercial partner. Analysts say the move could drag Beijing back into a trade confrontation with Washington just as both sides were trying to stabilise ties. Trump announced on Monday that his administration is preparing the new tariffs as part of efforts to punish Iran over its crackdown on protests and to choke off the country’s oil revenues. The proposed measure would hit major buyers of Iranian crude and goods, including China, India and several countries in Asia. China has repeatedly criticised unilateral US sanctions and defended its energy and trade links with Iran as legitimate under international law. Beijing is also a key player in Iran’s oil, infrastructure and technology sectors […]
