Trump Threatens 100% Tariffs on Russia over Ukraine Ceasefire

TMTPOST -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday issued new tariff threat to force Russia to move forward ceasefire with Ukraine.

Credit：China Central Television

The United States would impose up to 100% tariffs on Russia if Moscow doesn’t agree to halt hostilities in Ukraine, Trump threatened at White House when meeting with Nato secretary general Mark Rutte. Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that he was “very unhappy” with Moscow and “disappointed in” Russian President Vladimir Putin before he thought they would have had a deal months ago.

“We’re very, very unhappy with them, and we’re going to be doing very severe tariffs if we don’t have a deal in about 50 days,” Trump said, effectively giving a new deadline for Ukraine peach deal.

Trump said Russia could face the secondary tariffs of 100%, without elaborating.“We’re going to be doing very severe tariffs if we don’t have a deal in 50 days, tariffs at about 100%, you’d call them secondary tariffs,” said Trump. The president added that the tariffs would be “biting” and “very, very powerful”, though not specifying what legal authority he would use to impose the secondary tariffs.

Trump also confirmed plans to provide “top-of-the-line” weapons to Ukraine in an operation co-ordinated by NATO and paid for by its members, including Patriot missile systems that Ukraine has urged the US to send.

A White House official later clarified what Trump threatened meant the U.S. would impose a 100% secondary tariff on countries that purchase Russia’s exports if Moscow and Ukraine failed to reach an agreement within 50 days. The official didn’t offer details about the secondary tariff.

Secondary tariffs typically refer to levies put on a country for its trade with a U.S. adversary. Trump earlier this year has warned tariff goods from an adversary with secondary tariffs. The president in March said that countries that buy oil and gas from Venezuela will face a 25% levy, and in May he threatened to impose similar levies on countries that import Iranian oil.

Trump’s new threat highlighted his growing frustration with Russia over the lack of progress toward a ceasefire in Ukraine, and marked an escalation of the threat against Russia.

“If Russia and I are unable to make a deal on stopping the bloodshed in Ukraine... and if I think it was Russia’s fault, I am going to put secondary tariffs on oil, on all oil coming out of Russia,” Trump said in March.

Trump last Tuesday said he has approved sending additional weapons to Ukraine and is considering new sanctions on Russia. He also said he is considering whether to support a bipartisan Senate bill that will impose sweeping sanctions on Russia. Two days later, Trump told NBC News that he would have a “major statement” on Russia on Monday, raising investors’ speculation about serious new sanctions over Russia’s war in Ukraine.

A bipartisan bill is moving through Congress that would give the president authority to impose tariffs up to 500% on Russia. During the meeting on Monday, Trump said he didn't need the legislation to impose tariffs on Russia, but welcomed the lawmakers’ efforts.

rump’s remarks on Monday didn’t target directly on Russia’s energy exports and even offered Russia 50 more days to avoid new U.S. sanctions. Oil futures dropped on Monday, faring gains last Friday over sanction concerns. Brent crude finished 1.63% lower to close at $69.21 a barrel, and U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures lost 2.15% to settle at $66.98.