Miffed by India-China ties, Trump asks EU to put 100% tariff: Reports

US President Donald Trump has reportedly urged the European Union (EU) to join the United States in imposing massive tariffs of up to 100% on imports from India and China. The extraordinary demand, reports said, was made during a high-level meeting between senior US and EU officials in Washington, D.C. According to the reports, Trump believes a collective, transatlantic front using dramatic tariffs is the most effective way to cut off a key revenue source for Russian leader Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine. This proposed strategy marks a significant escalation in the economic pressure being levied against Moscow and its trading partners.

The call for joint action comes amid growing frustration within the White House over the difficulty of brokering a truce between Ukraine and Russia, a conflict that Trump once claimed he could end "within hours." While he has repeatedly threatened Russia with further sanctions, he has so far refrained from imposing direct measures on Moscow, instead focusing his punitive actions on nations that continue to buy Russian energy. Trump has already imposed what he calls "secondary sanctions" on India, raising tariffs on Indian goods to 50% due to New Delhi's continued purchases of Russian oil.

According to a US official quoted in the report, Washington is "ready to go, ready to go right now," but only if its European partners "step up" with them. The official also indicated that the US would be prepared to "mirror" any tariffs that the EU imposes on Beijing and New Delhi, potentially leading to an exponential increase in duties. The EU, which has so far relied more on direct sanctions than tariffs to isolate Russia, would be making a significant shift in its strategy if it adopts this proposal.

The US argument is that since India and China are major purchasers of Russian oil, hitting them with sweeping tariffs would effectively sever a vital economic lifeline for Moscow. An official said that there "really aren't many other places that oil can go" if the two largest buyers are subjected to such steep duties. This strategy aims to choke off Russia's financial resources, thereby forcing an end to the war.

The proposal has brought to light the complexities of global trade and diplomacy. While Washington and Brussels are looking for tougher measures, India has called the US-imposed tariffs "unjustified and unreasonable," defending its energy procurement as being in its national interest. The situation is further complicated by Trump's own recent public statements, where he has also signaled an openness to expanding trade ties with India, describing ongoing talks as "positive."