Trump to raise Graham law with China's Xi during upcoming visit

US President Donald Trump said he plans to discuss the recently signed so-called Graham law with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. He made the comment in response to a question from Ukrainska Pravda during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in New York.

Trump described the law, which he signed a few days earlier, as "very tough." Asked how it might affect China, the largest buyer of Russian oil and gas, the president said the topic would come up during his upcoming meeting with Xi. He added that the two leaders would discuss many issues and that relations between the US and China are "very good."

Xi's visit and the law's provisions

Chinese leader Xi Jinping is set to make a state visit to the United States from September 23 to 25 at Trump's invitation — his first such visit in more than a decade.

Trump signed the Graham law, co-authored by the late Senator Lindsey Graham, on September 18. Among other measures, it allows for tariffs of up to 100% on countries that are the largest buyers of Russian energy resources.

Speaking at the UN General Assembly, Trump had earlier said he was ready to apply the law, which concerns sanctions against Russia, if necessary.