Trump seeks EU’s support to impose 100% tariff on India
Trump’s plan was sent to senior European officials in Washington for sanctions negotiations, including EU sanctions ambassador David O’Sullivan, over a conference call.US President Donald Trump pushed European Union authorities to think about levying up to 100% tariffs on Chinese imports and to apply same policies on India. According to Reuters, which cited sources with knowledge of the talks, the action is meant to put more pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin as the conflict in Ukraine enters a new year.
Demands for a Coordinated Tariff Plan
According to reports, Trump’s plan was sent to senior European officials in Washington for sanctions negotiations, including EU sanctions ambassador David O’Sullivan, over a conference call. Washington made it clear that if Europe joined the campaign, the US would impose equivalent taxes, according to an EU diplomat. The diplomat clarified, “They are essentially saying: We’ll do this, but you need to do it with us.”
Targeting Buyers of Russian Oil
China and India have emerged as major buyers of Russian oil since Western countries reduced its purchases in the wake of Moscow’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Despite severe sanctions, their demand has assisted Russia in preserving economic stability. Trump wants to put more pressure on the Kremlin by focusing on these countries.
The plan comes after Washington raised tariffs many times. In part as a reaction to New Delhi’s oil trade with Moscow, Trump increased taxes on Indian exports by 25 percentage points earlier this summer. Additionally, he has frequently threatened to impose harsher trade sanctions on China and India due to their connections with Russia.
Europe’s Energy Record Is Mixed
The president of the United States has occasionally criticized Europe for not completely cutting ties with Russia. Russia still supplied over 19% of EU gas imports last year, despite significant cuts, but the bloc maintains its commitment to gradually weaning itself off of Russian energy completely.
Signals for Trade With India
Trump seemed to soften his position on India later on Tuesday, implying in a social media post that Washington and New Delhi were actively attempting to lower trade barriers. He also said he was looking forward to his next meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The likelihood of broad tariffs against China and India, two of the biggest economies in the world, increases the possibility of serious geopolitical and economic repercussions even as the US administration advocates for a more robust international posture on Russia.
