This follows Trump’s recent call for the EU to impose a 100% tariff on India and China over their continued imports of Russian crude, which he argues are helping to finance Putin’s war in Ukraine.
The United States is stepping up pressure on its G7 partners to impose steep tariffs on India and China, the two largest buyers of Russian crude, in a bid to choke off Moscow’s revenue and push it toward peace talks with Ukraine.
US Push for G7 Action
According to sources cited by the paper, G7 finance ministers are expected to discuss the US proposal during a video call scheduled for Friday. The move marks an escalation in President Donald Trump’s efforts to leverage trade measures as a tool to bring an end to the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Earlier this week, Trump publicly urged the European Union to impose 100% tariffs on Indian and Chinese purchases of Russian oil. He argued that such imports are fueling President Vladimir Putin’s war machine and prolonging the conflict in Ukraine.
Skepticism in Europe
However, EU officials have raised doubts about the feasibility of such a plan. A Reuters report quoted European diplomats as saying that sanctions and tariffs are treated differently in the bloc’s legal framework, making it difficult to adopt such sweeping measures. They also cautioned that targeting two of Europe’s major trade partners could lead to serious economic repercussions, potential retaliation from Beijing, and complications in the EU’s ongoing trade negotiations with New Delhi.
Washington’s Stance
A spokesperson for the US Treasury Department underscored Washington’s position, saying:
“Chinese and Indian purchases of Russian oil are funding Putin’s war machine and prolonging the senseless killing of the Ukrainian people. If our EU allies are serious about ending this war, they must join us in imposing meaningful tariffs that will be lifted the day the war ends.”
While the Treasury declined to disclose exact figures, sources revealed that Washington has floated tariff levels ranging from 50% to 100%.
Shift in Tone Toward India
Despite the aggressive push, the Trump administration has shown signs of a softer stance toward India. On Truth Social, Trump posted:
“I am pleased to announce that 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. I feel certain that there will be no difficulty in coming to a successful conclusion for both of our great countries!”
This comes as Trump’s envoy pick, Sergio Gor, told Reuters that India and the US are “not that far apart” on tariffs and that the dispute is expected to be resolved in the coming weeks. “We hold our friends to different standards,” he said, highlighting Washington’s expectation that New Delhi will align more closely with US strategic goals.
Strained Bilateral Ties
India-US ties have been under stress since July last year, when Trump imposed a 25% ‘reciprocal tariff’ on Indian goods, even as Washington struck trade deals with other partners, including China. Tensions worsened after an additional 25% tariff was slapped on Indian exports over New Delhi’s continued oil trade with Russia.
Despite these frictions, bilateral trade remains strong, valued at over $190 billion annually. Analysts believe that both sides are likely to seek a compromise, given the strategic and economic importance of their partnership.
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