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Trump's Tariff Twist: Asks EU to Slap 100% Taxes on China and India to Hurt Russia
In a bold move, former US President Donald Trump reportedly pushed European officials to hit India and China with massive tariffs. His goal? To punish both nations for buying Russian oil and to cut off the money funding Putin's war in Ukraine.
In a surprising phone call that's making waves across the world,US President Donald Trump has suggested a new, aggressive plan to pressure Russia: hit its biggest economic supporters with extremely high taxes.
According to reports from Reuters and the Financial Times, Trump spoke with European Union officials this week. He urged them to impose tariffs as high as 100% on goods from both China and India.
Why Target India and China?
The reason is all about Russian oil. Since the war in Ukraine began in 2022, Western nations have hit Russia with severe sanctions. However, countries like India and China have become major buyers of Russian crude oil, purchasing it at discounted rates.
This has been a win-win: India gets affordable energy, and Russia gets a crucial flow of cash to keep its economy running during the war. Trump's idea is that if the EU slaps heavy taxes on Indian and Chinese goods, it would force them to stop buying from Russia, effectively cutting off Putin's funding.
A "We'll Do It Together" Deal
The conversation happened between Trump and David O'Sullivan, the EU's sanctions envoy. An EU diplomat revealed that the US team suggested they would also impose these tariffs, but only if the European Union agreed to do the same.
"They are basically saying: We'll do this but you need to do it with us," the diplomat said.
This would be a big shift for the EU, which has so far focused on sanctions directly on Russia, not tariffs on other nations.
What Does This Mean for India?
This news puts India in a tricky spot. On one hand, the US is threatening to punish tariffs. On the very same day, Trump sent a mixed signal. He posted on social media that the US and India are "working to address trade barriers" and that he looks forward to talking with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
This isn't the first time Trump has talked about tariffs for India. Last summer, he did increase tariffs on some Indian products by 25% because of India's ties to Russia. However, he has not yet acted on the extreme 100% tariff threat.
The Bottom Line
Trump's proposal shows a hardline approach to foreign policy, using trade as a weapon in a global conflict. For India, it highlights the delicate balancing act it must play: maintaining its strong relationship with Russia for its own energy needs, while also nurturing its crucial strategic partnership with the United States. The world will be watching to see if Europe agrees to this plan and how India responds.
(source-mint)
#IndiaUSRelations#RussiaUkraineWar#Geopolitics
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