Treasury's Yellen pushes back on need for sanctions on China to deter against aid for Russia

America's Secretary of the Treasury argued against imposing sanctions on China as a partner to Russia.

In remarks to CNBC, Janet Yellen said: "I don't think that that's necessary or appropriate.

"Senior administration officials are talking privately and quietly with China to make sure that they understand our position."

She conceded that Washington would be concerned if Beijing were to supply weapons to Moscow or to try and evade the sanctions put in place against the Russian financial system and its central bank.

At present the US was not seeing that, she added.

She also highlighted the importance, in view of the invasion of Ukraine and the pandemic, of securing US supply chains.

Nevertheless, she pushed back on the notion that trade globalisation was ending.