Trump Urges EU to Levy 100% Tariffs on China and India in Push Against Russia

In a striking escalation of economic statecraft, former U.S. President Donald Trump has urged the European Union to impose 100% tariffs on imports from China and India — a move designed to undermine Russia’s war economy by targeting two of its largest energy customers.
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A Call for Transatlantic Unity

According to multiple sources, Trump made the request in a conference call with EU sanctions envoy David O’Sullivan and senior European officials visiting Washington this week. Trump argued that only a “coordinated front” between the United States and Europe could effectively curb Moscow’s ability to finance its war in Ukraine through oil sales to Asia.

“The EU should act first,” Trump reportedly said, pledging that Washington would mirror Europe’s actions immediately. He characterized the tariffs as a necessary lever of pressure, framing the proposal as not merely punitive but strategically essential.
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India and China in the Crosshairs

Both India and China have significantly expanded imports of discounted Russian crude since 2022, cushioning the Kremlin against Western sanctions. Trump has positioned them as critical enablers of Russia’s war machine.

The former president’s own administration has already imposed tariffs of up to 50% on Indian imports, citing its continued purchases of Russian oil. A push to double down with EU alignment marks a dramatic expansion of that approach.
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The EU’s Strategic Dilemma

For Brussels, Trump’s request presents a fraught dilemma. China remains the EU’s largest trading partner, while India is viewed as a vital growth market and a counterweight in Asia’s shifting geopolitical balance. A sweeping 100% tariff would likely provoke fierce retaliation and fracture already fragile supply chains.

European officials, sources say, expressed caution during the call, noting that such measures would represent an unprecedented escalation in global trade policy. The EU has historically leaned toward targeted sanctions and measured economic tools rather than sweeping, across-the-board tariffs.

Markets and Business Implications

If enacted, the tariffs could reverberate across industries — from automobiles and electronics to pharmaceuticals and energy — sending shockwaves through global markets already navigating inflationary pressures and disrupted supply lines.

Analysts warn that a transatlantic tariff wall against two of the world’s largest economies could trigger capital flight, currency volatility, and investor uncertainty, potentially redrawing the map of global trade alliances.
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Between Pressure and Diplomacy

Yet Trump’s message was not purely adversarial. Despite the combative tone, he underscored ongoing talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on trade barriers, signaling a willingness to maintain dialogue even as he wields tariffs as leverage.

This dual posture — combining economic coercion with diplomatic outreach — highlights a broader strategy: positioning the U.S. as both a disciplinarian and indispensable partner in an evolving geopolitical chessboard.
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A Historic Precedent?

Never before has the EU been asked to implement 100% blanket tariffs against major economies in alignment with Washington. Should Europe accede, the move could set a historic precedent in economic warfare — one that ties trade policy more explicitly than ever to geopolitical conflict.

For global businesses, investors, and policymakers, the question now is not just whether the EU will follow Trump’s lead, but what the world’s two most populous nations might do in response.