U.S. President Donald Trump has escalated his economic pressure campaign aimed at weakening Russia’s war effort by urging the European Union to impose sweeping tariffs—up to 100 percent on imports from China and India. The appeal came during a conference call with EU sanctions envoy David O’Sullivan and senior European officials, where Trump offered to mirror such tariffs from the U.S. side, positioning them as a form of coordinated economic warfare intended to undercut two of Russia’s most significant oil customers.
This marks a significant departure from the EU’s established strategy of sanctions, spotlighting a bold shift toward leveraging trade policy directly against nations seen as enabling Moscow’s financial lifeline. Trump has previously already increased U.S. tariffs on Indian goods to roughly 50 percent, part of a broader pushback against New Delhi’s continued purchases of Russian oil.
Despite the aggressive proposal, EU leaders remain cautious. Concerns loom that such extreme tariffs could inflict blowback on their own economies and strain delicate trade relations with both China and India. At the same time, market reaction has been muted. While oil prices ticked up slightly—Brent crude rose 0.53 percent and U.S. West Texas Intermediate gained 0.57 percent—the consensus is that the market remains skeptical about whether such tariffs will actually be implemented.
Trump’s high-stakes approach aligns with mounting frustration over the lack of diplomatic progress in resolving Russia’s war against Ukraine. By targeting Moscow’s key oil buyers, he seeks to elevate economic costs and force a recalibration of global energy dynamics.
That said, the legal grounds for such tariffs remain uncertain. For example, the U.S. Supreme Court in November is set to consider whether the president overstepped authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) by imposing global tariffs through executive action.
In parallel, Trump continues to signal a willingness for engagement. He issued a statement expressing optimism about ongoing trade negotiations with India and plans for a forthcoming conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while also reiterating U.S. readiness to cooperate on trade if tariffs are applied in tandem.
