Former US President Donald Trump has issued a forceful call for the European Union to implement tariffs of up to 100% on goods from China and India. This unprecedented move, according to a source familiar with the discussions and reported by the BBC, is intended to significantly increase economic pressure on Russia, thereby compelling President Vladimir Putin to end the ongoing war in Ukraine. The proposal, initially reported by the Financial Times, emerged during a Tuesday meeting between US and EU officials focused on strategies to curb Russia's aggression.
Trump's intervention comes amid intensified Russian attacks on Ukraine, including the recent devastating missile strike on Kyiv's main government building. These attacks, representing a significant escalation, followed a weekend of heavy aerial bombardment, with Ukraine reporting the use of hundreds of drones and missiles. The civilian death toll continues to rise, with over 20 civilians killed by a Russian glide bomb in the Donbas region this week alone. Trump, expressing his dissatisfaction with the situation, reiterated his threat of imposing harsher sanctions on Russia, though previous threats have gone unheeded by Putin.
This aggressive call for tariffs follows earlier statements from US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who emphasized Washington's willingness to escalate economic pressure on Russia but stressed the need for stronger European support. The proposed tariffs on China and India are particularly significant, given their substantial purchases of Russian oil, a crucial element sustaining Russia's economy. The EU, while aiming to reduce its reliance on Russian energy, still imports a considerable amount of natural gas from Russia. Implementing such tariffs would represent a significant departure from the EU's current strategy of primarily using sanctions to isolate Russia.
Separately, Trump revealed plans to speak with Putin in the coming days. This conversation follows a previously unsuccessful summit in Alaska that failed to achieve a peace agreement. On the trade front, Trump reported ongoing negotiations with India to resolve trade barriers, expressing optimism for a successful conclusion and confirming upcoming talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Modi echoed Trump's optimism, highlighting the strong friendship between India and the US. Trump's recent statements are viewed by many as a sign of improving relations between Washington and Delhi after a period of strained trade negotiations.
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Originally published at: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c80gvz3l7n2o
