Trump’s Push for EU Tariffs on China, India Over Russian Oil Raises Eyebrows in Europe:

In a bold and controversial move, former U.S. President Donald Trump has reportedly urged the European Union to impose tariffs of up to 100% on China and India for continuing to purchase Russian oil. The request, first reported by the Financial Times and confirmed by CNBC, has sparked surprise and skepticism across both Washington and Brussels. Trump made the proposal during a high-level meeting with U.S. and EU officials in Washington on Tuesday. According to sources, the U.S. is also prepared to "mirror" any tariffs that Europe enforces on India and China — a sign that the Trump team is serious about using trade penalties to ramp up pressure on countries still doing business with Moscow. While the White House has yet to officially comment, the European Commission has remained cautious. A spokesperson declined to confirm meeting details due to confidentiality, but emphasized ongoing engagement with “all relevant global partners, including India and China,” on enforcing sanctions against Russia. Europe's Reluctance European officials appear hesitant to support Trump's plan, primarily because of its diplomatic and economic risks. India and China are major trading partners, and the EU is wary of alienating them. Trump’s timing is also questionable, as Washington is currently in sensitive trade negotiations with New Delhi. India has already pushed back, calling U.S. tariffs “unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable,” while pointing out that both the U.S. and EU still engage in trade with Russia. Ian Bremmer, founder of Eurasia Group, told CNBC that Trump’s push seems more about shifting responsibility than actual policy: “It looks like an attempt to shift responsibility to Europe, giving political cover for U.S. inaction on sanctions while avoiding confrontation with China.” Analysts Urge EU to Say "No" Many European analysts believe the EU will — and should — reject Trump’s request. Bill Blain, a UK-based strategist, argued in his newsletter that Europe prefers diplomacy over trade wars. “No one in Europe believes tariffs are an effective trade policy tool... Europe should say no,” Blain wrote. Additionally, Europe’s own trade relationship with Russia complicates matters. While the EU has significantly reduced its dependence on Russian energy, it still imported over €35 billion worth of goods — primarily fuel and mining products — from Russia in 2024. U.S. LNG: The Real Agenda? Some experts suggest that Trump's push may have more to do with increasing U.S. energy exports than penalizing India or China. Trump claimed that the EU had pledged to purchase $750 billion worth of U.S. LNG, oil, and nuclear energy as part of its trade deal. U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum echoed this sentiment at Gastech 2025, saying: “Exporting LNG displaces Russian gas, boosts U.S. market share, and cuts off funding to Russia’s war machine.” Conclusion Trump’s tariff proposal may be aimed at isolating Russia, but its impact could instead spark transatlantic tensions and strain relations with India and China. As Europe weighs its options, most experts believe Brussels is unlikely to follow Trump’s lead into another global trade war.

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