The United States Congress passed a bill on Wednesday that grants the President authority to impose tariffs of up to 100 percent on the world’s five largest importers of Russian oil and natural gas. The legislation, which is named after the late Senator Lindsey Graham, is designed to exert economic pressure on Russia by targeting its primary energy customers.

Beijing has responded critically to the passage of the bill. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun stated that China remains firmly opposed to what it describes as “long-arm jurisdiction,” a term often used by Chinese officials to characterize US sanctions that affect foreign entities operating outside of American borders. While the bill provides the executive branch with the legal framework to implement these tariffs, it does not mandate them, leaving the final decision on enforcement to the President.

The legislation represents a significant escalation in the use of secondary sanctions to influence global energy markets. By targeting the top five importers, the bill aims to disrupt the revenue streams that support the Russian economy. However, the move has sparked immediate diplomatic friction, with China signaling that it views the policy as an infringement on international trade norms and an overreach of US domestic law.