In a move aimed at intensifying pressure on Russia, US President Donald Trump has reportedly urged the European Union to impose tariffs as high as 100% on goods from China and India. This proposal, revealed during a high-level meeting between US and EU officials, seeks to cut off a key revenue stream for Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine by targeting countries that continue to purchase Russian oil.

Trump's strategy hinges on the idea that by significantly increasing the cost of importing goods from China and India, the EU can compel these nations to reduce their oil purchases from Russia, thereby weakening the Russian economy. A US official stated that Trump is prepared to match the EU's tariffs on China and India, signaling a joint transatlantic effort to exert maximum economic pressure. "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," the official said.

The proposal comes as the EU prepares its 19th round of sanctions against Russia since the start of the conflict in 2022. Trump has been increasingly vocal about the need to penalize countries that continue to support Russia's war efforts. "The source of the money for the Russian war machine is oil purchases by China and India," the official told AFP. "If you do not get at the source of the money, there's no way to stop the war machine".

However, this is not the first time that Trump has expressed his displeasure with China and India's relationship with Russia. Recently on Truth Social, Trump voiced his opinion that America has "lost India and Russia to deepest, darkest China". This statement came after the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in China's Tianjin, where the leaders of China, India, and Russia were seen together.

The potential implications of such tariffs are far-reaching. China and India, both major global economies, have already voiced their concerns over previous US tariffs. Doubling tariffs could trigger a global trade war, destabilizing the world economy and undermining international trade rules.

Furthermore, India has been actively working to forge new trade partnerships to offset the impact of existing US tariffs. India is likely to finalize the terms of reference for a proposed free trade agreement with Qatar in early October. Trade Minister Piyush Goyal may visit Doha to conclude the framework for negotiations.

The EU's response to Trump's proposal remains to be seen. While the EU shares Washington's goal of weakening Russia's war effort, it may be hesitant to impose tariffs that could harm its own economy and alienate key trading partners. The EU is preparing a fresh round of sanctions on Russia. The coming weeks will be crucial in determining whether the US and the EU can reach a consensus on this issue and implement a coordinated strategy to increase economic pressure on Russia.