Trump says no imminent plans to penalize China for buying Russian oil

US President Donald Trump announced he would postpone raising tariffs on Chinese goods due to Beijing's purchases of Russian oil, citing progress in his talks with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on ending the war in Ukraine.

He was asked by Fox News' Sean Hannity if he was now considering such action against Beijing after he and Russian President Vladimir Putin failed to produce an agreement to resolve or pause Moscow's war in Ukraine.

"Well, because of what happened today, I think I don't have to think about that," Trump said after his summit with Putin in Alaska.

Earlier this month, Trump threatened to impose additional tariffs on Russian energy importers to pressure Putin to enter peace talks with Ukraine. He also effectively doubled tariffs on Indian products to 50%, effective August 27, for purchasing oil from Moscow.

However, any similar move toward China could threaten to breach the trade truce that Trump agreed to extend for an additional 90 days on Monday. Under the agreement, Washington and Beijing reduced tariffs on each other's goods after they reached record highs last spring, unsettling global markets.

China defends importing Russian oil

China has defended its imports of Russian oil as legal and necessary for its energy security.

Trump did not reach a ceasefire agreement with Putin during their meeting in Alaska, but he said they agreed on many points and urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to reach an agreement with Putin, who launched an unjustified war against his country in 2022.

"I think the meeting went very well," Trump said in an interview with Fox News.