Trump Pushes EU to Impose 100% Tariffs on India, China Over Russia

US President Donald Trump has asked the European Union to impose tariffs of up to 100% on India and China in a bid to increase pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin, Reuters reported. The request was made during a conference call with EU sanctions envoy David O’Sullivan and other European officials visiting Washington for talks on sanctions coordination.

American officials said the United States is also considering similar tariffs if the EU agrees to the proposal. If approved, this would mark a significant shift in the EU’s strategy, which has so far focused on financial sanctions to isolate Russia rather than using trade tariffs.

According to The Financial Times, European capitals are also debating possible secondary sanctions on India and China for continuing to purchase Russian oil and gas. However, many EU members remain cautious, given their heavy trade ties with Beijing and New Delhi. The discussions come shortly after a high-profile summit where Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaffirmed their strategic partnership.

Both India and China are among the biggest buyers of Russian energy. Trump has repeatedly criticized them for this, threatening steep tariffs as punishment. He previously imposed a 25% tariff on India and has also accused Europe of failing to fully sever its energy ties with Moscow.

Despite his tough talk, Trump recently struck a softer note on India. On his Truth Social platform, he suggested that Washington could expand trade with New Delhi and said that he looks forward to further discussions with Prime Minister Modi to resolve trade barriers.