Trump urges EU to impose up to 100% tariffs on India, China over Russian oil imports

US President Donald Trump has asked the European Union (EU) to join the United States in imposing tariffs of up to 100 per cent on imports from India and China.

Both countries are among the largest buyers of Russian crude, and the move aims to pressure Moscow to end its war in Ukraine.

According to a report by The Financial Times, Trump made this demand during a Tuesday meeting between US and EU officials in Washington. The officials were discussing ways to reduce Russia’s revenue sources for the war.

“We're ready to go, ready to go right now, but we're only going to do this if our European partners step up with us,” one US official was quoted as saying.

Another official added that the US is prepared to “mirror” any tariffs the EU imposes on Beijing and New Delhi. This could lead to a sharp increase in US levies on imports from both nations. Trump has already set tariffs at 50 per cent on Indian goods and 30 per cent on Chinese products.

The official told FT that the president’s view was that the most straightforward approach would be to impose significant tariffs and keep them in place until China agrees to stop purchasing the oil, as there are few alternative markets for it.

Trump’s proposal comes as frustration grows within the White House over its inability to broker a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia. Trump had earlier claimed he could arrange a truce “within hours” after becoming President.

Following Russia’s recent large aerial attacks on Ukraine, Trump threatened to impose more sanctions and penalise countries purchasing Russian oil, aiming to cut off key funding for Putin’s war. So far, India is the only country to face secondary sanctions, while China has not been specifically targeted.

Trump’s aggressive stance contradicts his remarks earlier on Tuesday, where he expressed optimism about negotiations with India.

On his social media platform, Truth Social, he wrote: "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!"

His comments came shortly after Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with China’s Xi Jinping and Russia’s Vladimir Putin at the SCO summit.

The proposed tariffs are part of Trump’s broader strategy to curb Russia’s energy-driven war by pressuring its key allies. However, the approach risks disrupting global trade and harming relations with major partners like India and China.

The EU has yet to respond to Trump’s request, and the situation remains tense as officials deliberate on how best to proceed. The MEA and foreign ministries of India and China are monitoring developments closely.