Trump urges EU to impose 100% tariffs on China and India
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Donald Trump has reportedly urged the European Union to impose 100% tariffs on China and India as part of a broader pressure campaign to force an end to the war in Ukraine.
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US President Donald Trump welcomes Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House in Washington, Friday, February 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)
US President Donald Trump has reportedly asked the European Union to impose 100% tariffs on imports from China and India as part of an effort to pressure Russian President Vladimir Putin into ending Russia's campaign in Ukraine.
According to reports by the Financial Times, BBC, and Bloomberg, Trump made the request during a recent meeting between United States and EU officials in Washington.
The discussions focused on ramping up economic pressure on Moscow through coordinated trade measures.
“We are ready to go, ready to go right now, but we are only going to do this if our European partners step up with us,” a US official was quoted as saying.
Read more: Poland downs hostile objects during Russian strikes on Ukraine
India and China strengthen ties with Moscow
The move comes in the wake of growing alignment between Russia, China, and India, with Russian President Putin meeting both Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a recent summit in China.
The Trump administration has previously criticized both countries for maintaining economic ties with Russia. Last month, Washington increased tariffs on Indian imports to 50% in retaliation for New Delhi’s continued purchases of Russian oil.
Trump has reportedly grown frustrated with the stalled diplomatic process, including efforts to broker a peace deal during a high-profile summit with Putin held in Alaska. His renewed call for punitive trade action comes just days after Russia’s largest-ever drone attack on Ukraine.
Speaking to reporters after the Washington meeting, Trump said he expected to hold a call with Putin “this week or early next week.”
On his Truth Social platform, Trump wrote, “India, and the United States of America, are continuing negotiations to address the Trade Barriers between our two Nations. I look forward to speaking with my very good friend, Prime Minister Modi, in the upcoming weeks.”
EU, US officials discuss joint sanctions
The proposal was discussed in Washington with top EU sanctions officials, including David O’Sullivan, alongside senior officials from the US Treasury Department.
Though no formal EU position has been announced, the proposal signals a potentially escalatory approach to economic warfare, with tariffs being used not only for trade leverage but also as a foreign policy tool against Russia’s allies.
