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China issues first formal blocking order against US sanctions on teapot refiners
International
Published on 2 May 2026
Beijing bars firms from obeying US sanctions
China has escalated trade tensions by issuing its first formal blocking measure, telling domestic firms not to comply with US sanctions tied to five petrochemical refiners linked to Iran oil trade. The Commerce Ministry called the US action a violation of international law. The order marks a new phase in China-US economic friction and sanctions enforcement.
- China’s Commerce Ministry issued a first-ever blocking measure
- Firms are prohibited from complying with specific US sanctions
- The action targets five petrochemical refiners tied to Iran oil trade
- Beijing says the US measures breach international law
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This summarization was done by Beige for a story published on 
Republic