In Effort To Draw An End To War In Ukraine, President Trump Threatens Tariffs On Russian Trading Partners

While announcing a new plan to send military assistance to Ukraine, President Donald Trump threatened to impose a 100 percent “secondary tariff” on Russia’s trading partners if the country’s president, Vladimir Putin, does not make a deal to end its invasion of Ukraine within 50 days. The penalties would be imposed on about a dozen countries, including China and India, which are Russia’s primary trading partners. The White House has not released additional details about its plans yet, however.

At the same time, U.S. lawmakers would like to impose new penalties on Russia. Indeed, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) said he hopes the upper chamber of Congress approves legislation to place tough sanctions on Russia by the August recess. The bipartisan proposal to which Majority Leader Thune was referring is sponsored by Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and would impose primary and secondary sanctions on Russia and countries that purchase Russian oil, gas, uranium, and other products, as well as a 500 percent tariff on imported goods from any countries that purchase sanctioned Russian products. The Hill has more information.

The legislation is supported by the vast majority of senators, and in the U.S. House of Representatives, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has said he supports more Russia sanctions.