US President Donald Trump has asked European Union officials to impose tariffs of up to 100% on China and India in order to cut off Russia's oil revenues and force President Vladimir Putin to negotiate.
According to the report, Trump called a meeting of senior US and EU officials in Washington to advocate for a joint tariff strategy against Beijing and New Delhi. China and India are major purchasers of Russian oil.
Key Highlights
- Trump urged the EU to levy 100% tariffs on India and China to pressure Putin.
- U.S. offered to mirror any EU tariffs, signaling coordinated economic strategy against Russian oil buyers.
"We're ready to go, right now, but we'll only do it if our European partners join us," one US official told. Another stated that Washington would be willing to "mirror" EU tariffs, escalating US levies even further if Brussels acted.
"The president came on this morning, and he believes that the obvious approach here is to impose dramatic tariffs and keep them in place until the Chinese agree to stop buying oil. "There aren't many other places for oil to go," the first US official was quoted as saying.
This comes after Chinese President Xi Jinping, Putin, and Prime Minister Modi met at the SCO Summit in Tianjin more than a week ago. The White House is frustrated by the lack of progress in brokering peace in Ukraine, as well as Russia's intensifying air strikes.
Last month, the United States increased tariffs on Indian imports to 50% over Russian oil purchases, escalating tensions with New Delhi. On Tuesday evening, Trump attempted to soften the tone, writing on Truth Social that trade talks with India would continue.
Also Read: Trump May Impose New Tariffs on India & China to Pressure Russia
"India and the United States of America are continuing negotiations to address trade barriers between our two countries. I'm looking forward to speaking with my good friend, Prime Minister Modi, in the coming weeks," he wrote.
EU officials, led by sanctions chief David O'Sullivan, met in Washington with senior US Treasury officials. European capitals have debated imposing secondary sanctions on countries that purchase Russian oil and gas, but many remain cautious due to their own close trade ties with China and India. Some EU nations continue to import Russian energy products directly.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has already called US tariffs on countries that buy Russian oil "the right idea." Trump ally and trade adviser Peter Navarro has repeatedly accused India of profiting from cheap Russian crude by refining and reselling products to the West, charges that New Delhi denies.
