• Source:JND
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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.

The request, conveyed via a conference call with EU sanctions envoy David O’Sullivan and other senior officials, marks a potential shift in Washington’s approach to sanctions coordination with Europe. Trump, officials said, argued 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,” one 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.

A Break From EU’s Sanctions-First Approach

So far, the European Union has preferred to rely on sanctions and import restrictions to curb Russian revenue, rather than using tariffs as a tool. Trump’s latest push suggests a harder line, with a threat of parallel US tariffs if Brussels agrees to align. Over the summer, Trump raised duties on Indian goods by 25 percentage points, citing its energy trade with Russia as one reason. But despite repeated warnings, the White House has not yet triggered the far more sweeping 100 per cent tariffs he has hinted in his private conversations.

At times, Trump has criticised Europe for not fully severing its economic ties with Russia. Despite a steep drop in imports since the Ukraine war began, Russian gas still accounted for roughly 19 per cent of EU supply last year. EU leaders insist they are committed to ending this dependency entirely.

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.

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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.

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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.