U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on Wednesday indicated that President Trump will bring up China's continuing energy imports from Iran at his meeting with President Xi Jinping scheduled for next week in Beijing.
Speaking on Bloomberg TV, Greer said the administration plans to address the subject directly. He added that the administration hopes the issue will not interrupt broader bilateral relations or derail any potential agreements emerging from the Beijing discussions, but emphasized it remains a concern that could be part of the conversation.
The U.S. government has criticized Beijing for effectively providing financial support to Tehran through its purchases of Iranian energy. As part of efforts to limit Iran's revenue streams, Washington has warned banks they may face secondary sanctions if they assist Chinese refiners in buying Iranian oil.
Those warnings form part of a broader U.S. push to reduce or halt shipments of Iranian crude, which the administration says constitute a vital source of income for Tehran. Greer characterized Iran as the world’s largest state sponsor of terrorism and argued that any entity buying oil from Iran contributes to that status.
Officials have framed their measures as targeting the financial channels that enable Iranian exports. Greer's comments suggest the topic of energy trade and financial exposure tied to Iranian oil will be raised at a high diplomatic level during the upcoming summit.
Context and implications
While Greer expressed a desire to keep discussions on track across the wider U.S.-China agenda, his remarks underline that energy trade and sanctions compliance remain active elements of U.S. policy toward Iran and a potential point of friction in the bilateral relationship.
The administration's stance signals ongoing scrutiny of both commercial actors and financial institutions whose activities might facilitate Iranian crude exports.
Note: The information above reflects the statements and positions described by the U.S. Trade Representative during his appearance as reported on Wednesday.