The United States is reportedly considering higher tariffs on countries purchasing Russian oil, including India, with President Donald Trump proposing tariffs ranging from 50% to 100%. Trump emphasized that these tariffs should be imposed only if the European Union (EU) takes similar actions.
According to a US official, the suggested tariffs aim to target the money flowing into Russia’s war efforts through oil purchases by nations like China and India. “If you do not get at the source of the money, there’s no way to stop the war machine,” the official stated. Trump is eager to move forward with the plan, but insists that the EU must take similar steps to ensure the effectiveness of the strategy.
The discussions took place in Washington, where EU sanctions envoy David O’Sullivan, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, US State Department officials, and Ukraine’s Prime Minister participated. Trump reportedly joined the talks remotely. The session highlighted ongoing efforts to curb financial support for Russia through oil exports.
A separate US official noted that a bill with 85 Senate co-sponsors would allow secondary tariffs on countries trading with Russia. However, there were concerns about the EU’s political will to follow through on such actions.
Trump and Modi Discuss Trade Barriers
This development comes as President Trump expressed his intention to speak with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the coming weeks. In a post on Truth Social, Trump described Modi as a “very good friend” and expressed confidence that ongoing talks between the two countries would lead to a successful resolution of trade barriers. Trump believes that there will be no difficulty in overcoming these obstacles for the benefit of both nations.
The remarks follow a series of comments from Trump at the White House, where he praised US-India ties as “very special,” though he also noted disagreements over certain policies. Prime Minister Modi responded warmly, expressing his deep appreciation for the US-India relationship and his willingness to work closely with Trump.
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