- By Supratik Das
- Wed, 10 Sep 2025 08:26 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
US President Donald Trump has called on the European Union to impose steep tariffs, as high as 100 per cent on imports from China and India, in what he described as a broader strategy to squeeze Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war economy, according to a US official and an EU diplomat cited by Reuters. He also encouraged the European Union to slap India with similarly expansive tariffs, said the official, who requested anonymity to discuss private conversations.
Trump, officials said that Beijing and New Delhi are “critical lifelines” for Moscow because of their continued purchases of Russian oil, which has helped sustain the Kremlin’s finances since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. “They are basically saying, We’ll do this, but you need to do it with us,” EU diplomat told reporters, stressing that the United States is willing to match the tariffs if Europe moves ahead. The comments were first reported by the Financial Times and later confirmed by sources, as reported by Reuters.
Trump Softens Tone On India
In a shift of tone, however, Trump suggested later on Tuesday that Washington is also seeking to expand trade with New Delhi. In a social media post, he said the US and India are working together to “remove barriers” and added that he looks forward to speaking soon with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
ALSO READ: Trump Softens Tone On India After Tariff Tensions, Says 'Will Speak To PM Modi In Coming Weeks'
In his post, Trump wrote, “I am pleased to announce that India and the United States of America are continuing negotiations to address the Trade Barriers between our two Nations. I look forward to speaking with my very good friend, Prime Minister Modi, in the upcoming weeks. I feel certain that there will be no difficulty in coming to a successful conclusion for both of our Great Countries!”The announcement comes in the backdrop of Washington recently imposing a 50 per cent tariff on Indian goods, along with an additional 25 per cent penalty on purchases of Russian oil.
ALSO READ: PM Modi Responds To Trump, Calls India-US Ties 'Natural Partnership' Amid Tariff Talks
Both China and India have emerged as top buyers of Russian crude, often at discounted rates, allowing Moscow to cushion the blow of Western sanctions. Now at this point of time any coordinated tariff move by the US and EU could significantly raise costs for both countries and test their balancing act between maintaining trade with the West and securing energy from Russia.