Trump urges NATO to impose harsh sanctions on Russia, slap China with 50–100% duties| Zee Business

In the latest trade escalation, US President Donald Trump, in a letter to NATO nations, has urged allies to impose sweeping sanctions on Russia and halt purchases of Russian oil, warning that continued imports undermine the West’s negotiating power against Moscow.

“I am ready to do major sanctions on Russia when all NATO nations have agreed, and when all NATO nations stop buying oil from Russia,” Trump wrote. “The purchase of Russian oil by some has been shocking! It greatly weakens your negotiating position, and bargaining power, over Russia.”

Calls for steep tariffs on China

Trump also proposed steep tariffs on China to pressure Beijing to curb support for Moscow. “I believe that … placing 50 per cent to 100 per cent tariffs on China, to be fully withdrawn after the war with Russia and Ukraine is ended, will also be of great help in ending this deadly, but ridiculous, war,” he said in his post on Truth Social.

Calling the conflict “Biden’s and Zelenskyy’s war,” Trump argued that his plan could “save thousands of Russian and Ukrainian lives” and warned NATO leaders: “If you are not, you are just wasting my time, and the time, energy, and money of the United States.”

Also Read: ‘That’s a big deal, not an easy thing to do’: Trump admits 50% tariffs on India soured bilateral relations  

NATO oil buyers under spotlight

NATO member Turkey has been the third largest buyer of Russian oil, after China and India, according to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air. Other members of the 32-state alliance involved in purchasing Russian oil include Hungary and Slovakia.

The letter comes at a tense moment in the conflict after the recent flight of multiple Russian drones into Poland, an escalatory move by Russia as it was entering the airspace of a NATO ally. Poland shot down the drones. It also comes as Congress is trying to get him behind a bill toughening sanctions.

Ban on Russian oil, tariffs to ‘end war’

Trump in his post said that a NATO ban on Russian oil plus tariffs on China would “also be of great help in ENDING this deadly, but RIDICULOUS, WAR.” The president said that NATO members should put the 50 per cent to 100 per cent tariffs on China and withdraw them if the war that launched with Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine ends.

“China has a strong control, and even grip, over Russia,” he posted, and powerful tariffs “will break that grip.”

The US president has already imposed an additional 25 per cent import tax on top of the existing 25 per cent duty, bringing the total to 50 per cent on goods from India for its purchases of Russian energy products.

Also Read: Patience with Putin ‘running out fast’: Trump hints at tougher US sanctions on Russia

In his post, Trump said the responsibility for the war lay with his predecessor, Democrat Joe Biden, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, omitting Russian President Vladimir Putin, who launched the invasion.

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