Chinese refineries imported an average of 560,000 bpd of crude oil from Iran between August and October, a rebound from lower imports during June and July. The high demand was due to increased import quotas set by Beijing and discounted Iranian oil prices at a time when global oil prices are high. Buying Iranian oil can expose Chinese businesses to U.S. secondary sanctions, but according to a U.S. official the United States has not enforced these sanctions on Chinese companies while negotiations over the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) continue.