US President Donald Trump has called on the European Union to impose 100% tariffs on Chinese and Indian goods in a bid to pressure Russian dictator Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine, the BBC reports.
Trump floated the idea on the 9th of September during a meeting between US and EU officials to discuss ways to increase economic pressure on Russia.
The US president, who has previously boasted that he could end the war “in one day,” is trying to broker a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine, but Russia has stepped up its attacks on its neighbor. Trump also told reporters he planned to speak to Putin in the coming days.
In August, the US increased import tariffs on Indian goods to 50% as punishment for India’s continued economic cooperation with the aggressor country. Although Europe has promised to end its dependence on Moscow’s energy resources, about 19% of gas imports still come from Russia. If the EU were to impose import tariffs on Chinese and Indian goods,
it would mark a change in its approach to isolating Russia.
Trump’s demand for the EU follows US Secretary of State for the Economy Scott Bessett’s statement that Washington is ready to increase economic pressure but that stronger EU support is needed.
Over the weekend, Russia carried out a strike on the Ukrainian government building in Kiev, in what is seen as a symbolic attack and a significant escalation of the Kremlin’s aggression. On the 9th of September, Russia bombed the Donbas, killing more than 20 people waiting in line for pension payments. Trump has said he is not satisfied with the situation and has threatened to tighten sanctions on the Kremlin. He has previously promised to take a tougher stance against Russia, but that has not happened. The meeting between Trump and Putin in Alaska on the 15th of August also ended without any tangible results.
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