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US President Donald Trump has called on the European Union to impose tariffs of up to 100% on India and China in an effort to increase pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin, Reuters reported, citing a US official and an EU diplomat.
The request was conveyed during a conference call with EU sanctions envoy David O’Sullivan and other European officials who are in Washington to discuss sanctions coordination. The United States also indicated it would consider implementing similar tariffs if the EU agreed to the proposal.
If approved, the move would mark a shift in the EU’s approach, which has primarily focused on sanctions to isolate Russia rather than tariffs. According to The Financial Times, European capitals are also weighing the possibility of secondary sanctions on countries like India and China for purchasing Russian oil and gas.
However, many EU members are cautious due to their trade dependencies with Beijing and New Delhi. The discussion follows a recent summit where Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi reinforced their strategic ties.
Both India and China are major buyers of Russian oil, and Trump has repeatedly threatened tariffs against them as punishment for continuing such trade. He previously imposed a 25% tariff on India as a penalty and has criticized Europe for not fully cutting ties with Russian energy.
Despite his tariff threats, Trump recently suggested on his Truth Social platform that the US could enhance trade with India. He noted that Washington and New Delhi are working to address trade barriers, adding that he looks forward to further discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
