Trump to mull 100% tariffs on India, China to punish Russia: Report
Washington: US President Donald Trump is considering slapping 100% tariffs on imports from India and China as part of a bid to pressure Moscow over its war in Ukraine, the Financial Times reported, citing senior US officials.
According to the report, Trump joined a meeting with top US and EU officials in Washington and pressed European allies to move in lockstep with Washington. “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,” an unnamed US official told the publication.
The move is being framed as a pressure tactic against Russian President Vladimir Putin. It follows Trump’s earlier warning giving Moscow 50 days to reach a deal to end the conflict.
The US is said to be ready to match Europe’s tariffs on either India or China, escalating duties further if needed. Washington currently imposes a 30% tariff on Chinese imports, while Indian goods face a 50% levy—up from the 25% tariff Trump first announced in July. He justified the hike by citing India’s continued purchases of Russian oil.
Despite Beijing being the largest buyer of Russian crude, Washington has so far held off on raising duties on Chinese goods. However, the FT report said Trump wants “dramatic tariffs” to remain in place until Beijing halts Russian oil imports.
The timing of the tariff threat is notable, coming days after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Chinese President Xi Jinping projected unity at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin.
Following the summit, Trump posted a photo of the three leaders on Truth Social, writing: “Looks like we’ve lost India and Russia to deepest, darkest, China. May they have a long and prosperous future together!” He later softened his stance, praising Modi as a “great Prime Minister” and reaffirming ties with India. In a more recent post, Trump said Washington and New Delhi would continue talks to “address trade barriers,” adding he looks forward to further discussions with Modi.
India, alongside China, remains one of the largest buyers of Russian oil. A Reuters report earlier this year noted that New Delhi sourced 35% of its crude imports from Russia in the first half of 2025.