Can NATO, EU Slap Tariffs On India, China As Trump Wants To Pressure Russia? | World News

NEW DELHI: US President Donald Trump asked NATO and EU member states to bring up to 100 percent tariffs to China and India. He said the goal was to put pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine.

Trump, who promised to solve the conflict on the “first day of the presidency, increased the proposal during a meeting with the European Union officials last Tuesday. The measure is seen as a way of accelerating negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv.

Financial Times first reported Trump’s request. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Washington has prepared more strict economic restrictions on Russia, but seeking more powerful European support.

On September 13, Trump issued a letter on Truth Social. He wrote that NATO was “ready to do great sanctions on Russia after deciding to do the same thing”. The authority added that the upright tariffs on China will weaken Beijing’s “control” on Russia.

Why does Trump want tariffs in China, India?

China and India continue to import Russian oil by keeping the Russian economy alive.

China bought 109 million tons of Russian crude oil last year. According to Chinese customs data, this represents approximately 20 percent of total energy imports.

India imported 88 million tons of Russian oil in approximately 35 percent of its imports in 2024.

Trump had previously brought India a 25 percent tariff to buy Russian crude oil. He did not do the same for China because of a fragile trade ceasefire.

On Saturday, Trump called NATO to apply 50-100 percent of tariffs to China. The authority said that the stopping of Russian energy purchases will be “great help ında in the end of the conflict when combined with heavy tariffs.

Europe’s dependence on Russian energy has fallen. The import of EU Russian natural gas was 45 percent of the war. They are expected to fall to 13 percent in 2025. Trump insists that Europe should do more.

Rising NATO-Russia voltages

Russian drones recently crossed NATO borders. He entered the Poland airspace on more than a dozen on Wednesday. A drone entered the Romania airspace on Saturday. Poland intentionally called the attack. Moscow said that there was no “targeting plan ı Poland. Romania confused jets and condemned “irresponsible actions ..

France and Germany joined a NATO mission to strengthen the eastern wing. Military beings are moving to the east.

In a FOX News interview, Trump said his patience to Putin was exhausted. He criticized Russia’s increasing attacks on Ukraine, including the largest air raid at the beginning of this month.

The Minister said that additional sanctions on Russian banks and energy products were taken into consideration. “Very strong, we will have to descend very strongly,” he said.

Trump’s call for allied tariffs comes while challenging the authority under the International Emergency Economic Authorities (IEEPA). In May, a US Commercial Court decided that the tariffs exceeded any authority given to the President ”. The Court of Appeal approved the decision in August. The case is going to the Supreme Court in November.

Can the EU China apply tariffs to India?

The EU-China trade reached approximately 732 billion euros ($ 860 billion) in 2024. With China, 305.8 billion euros (359 billion dollars) with China made a gap. Beijing continues to be the biggest import partner of the EU after the USA.

In 2024, US-US trade was 1.68 trillion euros ($ 1.98 trillion). The EU had surplus goods 19 billion euros ($ 233 billion).

Imports from China include 40 percent consumer electronics, heavy production equipment and clothes. Import from India is smaller.

In 2024, the EU carried out a vulnerability of goods trade with India and 22.5 billion euros (26 billion dollars).

Sudden tariffs of 50-100 percent can disrupt supply chains, increase production costs and increase consumer prices in the EU. This is not possible unilateral measures.

Some EU states support the targeted actions against China. On September 12, the G7 finance ministers discussed additional sanctions on Russia and possible tariffs on the “providing” countries.

Türkiye, a member of NATO, is the third largest buyer of Russian oil after China and India. Hungary and Slovakia are also buying Russian oil.

What’s next?

China reacted within a few hours after Trump’s announcement. Foreign Minister Wang said that China did not participate in wars. “War problems cannot solve and sanctions just complicate them,” he said.

US Treasury Secretary Bessent will meet China’s Deputy Prime Minister He LiFeng on Monday. The aim is to increase trade tensions between the two largest economies.

Trump plans to talk with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the coming weeks. A “Successful result” awaits for trade talks. Modi reiterated the optimism by saying “close friends and natural partners” to the USA.

“Our teams are trying to conclude these discussions at the earliest. I am also looking forward to talking with President Trump,” PM Modi said.