Trump pushes EU to put 100% tariffs on India, China to slap Russia
On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump called on the European Union (EU) to consider imposing tariffs of up to 100 per cent on India and China in an effort to exert pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin, which cited sources. The request, communicated through a conference call, aimed to utilize the significant positions of the two Asian powers as major purchasers of Russian oil, which continues to be essential to Moscow’s economy in the context of the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Trump appealed directly to EU sanctions envoy David O’Sullivan and other officials. The EU delegation visited Washington to engage in discussions regarding the coordination of sanctions. An EU diplomat stated that Washington indicated its readiness to impose comparable tariffs should Brussels consent. “They are basically saying: We’ll do this but you need to do it with us,” the diplomat stated. If adopted, Trump’s proposal would represent a notable shift for the EU, which has thus far depended mainly on sanctions instead of tariffs to isolate Russia. China and India continue to be significant purchasers of Russian oil, while Trump has consistently issued threats of punitive measures against both nations.
In July, Trump imposed a 25 per cent reciprocal tariff on Indian imports, later doubling it to 50 per cent, citing New Delhi’s continued oil trade with Moscow. In contrast, while China stands as the largest buyer of Russian crude, Washington has, to this point, chosen not to increase tariffs on Chinese products, which are presently subjected to a 30 percent duty. The demand for increased tariffs arises just days following the demonstration of unified support by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the SCO Summit in Tianjin.
Trump has also criticized Europe for failing to fully eliminate its energy dependence on Russia. Moscow provided approximately 19 percent of the European Union’s gas imports last year, despite Brussels’ commitment to eliminate this dependency. Trump indicates willingness to strengthen relations with India, Trump indicated a willingness to broaden trade relations with India, despite his firm position. In a social media post, he stated that the US and India were collaborating to tackle trade barriers and expressed his anticipation for a conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
