 "(File) US President Donald Trump. Reuters")
US President Donald Trump reportedly urged the European Union to impose tariffs of up to 100 per cent on imports from India and China as part of a coordinated effort to pressure Russia into ending its war in Ukraine. According to officials familiar with the matter, the request came during a call on Tuesday when the US president dialled into a high-level meeting between American and European policymakers in Washington.
The gathering was focussed on intensifying the economic burden on Moscow and Trump was said to have insisted that a united transatlantic approach was the only effective path forward, Financial Times reported.
US push for reciprocal measures
Sources indicated that Washington was prepared to match any tariffs imposed by the EU. One senior American official was quoted as stressing readiness to implement the plan immediately, provided European partners demonstrated equal commitment. Another official added that such a strategy could lead to a significant escalation in US trade measures against both Asian economies. The officials suggested that Trump viewed tariffs as the most direct means of targeting Russian oil sales, particularly by reducing the willingness of China and India to purchase discounted energy from Moscow, Financial Times reported.
Frustration over Ukraine conflict
The push for punitive trade action was described as a reflection of mounting frustration inside the White House. Officials reportedly conveyed that the administration saw limited options for brokering a peace settlement, especially as Russia continued aerial attacks against Ukrainian cities. Trump was said to have argued that imposing dramatic tariffs and maintaining them until Beijing ceased oil purchases from Moscow represented the most effective pressure point, since Russia had few alternative buyers.
Diplomatic undertones and upcoming talks
Later the same day, Trump suggested to reporters that he anticipated a direct conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the near future. This statement came shortly after a summit that highlighted strengthened ties among Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The convergence of these leaders was seen by US officials as a complicating factor in Western efforts to isolate Moscow diplomatically and economically
Strained trade relations with India and China
The move also followed escalating trade tensions. In August, Washington raised tariffs on Indian imports to 50 per cent, citing Delhi’s purchases of Russian oil. Despite this, Trump wrote on Truth Social that negotiations with India would continue and hinted at a potentially positive outcome. He expressed optimism about future discussions with Prime Minister Modi, describing him as a “very good friend.” Meanwhile, trade measures on China remained volatile, with sharp tariff hikes in April that were later scaled back after financial markets reacted negatively.
European involvement
The Washington discussions also included EU sanctions chief David O’Sullivan alongside senior US Treasury officials. Their participation highlighted ongoing efforts to align Western economic policy in response to Russia’s war, even as questions persisted about the viability of punitive tariffs against major economies like India and China.