Trump calls on Europe to impose tariffs of up to 100 percent on India and China for buying Russian oil — FT

U.S. President Donald Trump has called on the European Union to impose tariffs of up to 100 percent on goods from India and China in order to “increase pressure” on Russia, which supplies oil to both countries, the Financial Times and AFP reported, citing sources.

Trump made the proposal during a meeting of senior E.U. and U.S. officials in Washington, where the two sides discussed ways to step up economic pressure on Moscow to end the war in Ukraine.

According to one American official, Washington is prepared to “mirror” any E.U. tariffs against China and India.

“The [president’s] view is that the obvious approach here is, let’s all put on dramatic tariffs and keep the tariffs on until the Chinese agree to stop buying the oil. There really aren’t many other places that oil can go,” another U.S. official said.

In early August, Trump imposed 25 percent tariffs on India over its continued purchases of Russian oil, later raising them to 50 percent.

On September 3, during talks with European leaders, Trump said Europe should pressure China to halt purchases of Russian oil and gas. He also demanded that Europe stop buying Russian oil. According to U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright, European countries must end their purchases of Russian oil and gas if they want Washington to tighten sanctions on Moscow.