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Global Geopolitical Series: China reportedly raised oil supplies to North Korea as U.S. engages in trade dispute

China has reportedly loosened its grip on oil supplies to North Korea and probably because the United States has waged a trade war against China and the latter plans to North Korea as one of the bargaining chips in the trade dispute. It could also be the fact that rennet tensions between North Korea and the United States eased as President Trump personally met North Korean supreme leader Kim Jong Un. According to a report in the South Korean newspaper Chosun Ilbo, China increased supplies to 80,000 tons in June.

The current UN sanctions on North Korea allows the country to import 6 million barrels of crude oil and related products per year and only 4 million barrels of crude oil every year, which is around 525,000 tons or 43,750 tons per month. So, it looks like that China is shipping almost double the amount allowed under sanctions.

However, this increase should not come as a surprise to any as President Trump repeatedly pointed out while thanking President Xi of China for his efforts to bring North Korea to the negotiating table that China has loosened the border control with North Korea and that is probably due to the ongoing trade tensions with the U.S.

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