Trump will consider imposing tariffs on nations purchasing oil from Russia within a timespan of two to three weeks.
US President Donald Trump has taken a significant step in his ongoing efforts to curb Russia's oil exports, imposing a 25% tariff on Indian goods last week due to its continued purchase of Russian oil. The Executive Order, effective from August 27, 2025, also establishes a process to potentially impose similar tariffs on other countries, including China, that import Russian oil [1].
In a recent conversation with Fox News' Sean Hannity, Trump mentioned a potential consideration of action against China in two to three weeks regarding Russian oil. However, no explicit announcement about imposing tariffs on China has been made yet [1]. The Secretary of Commerce, along with other officials, will review whether other countries, including China, are importing Russian oil and may recommend further actions accordingly [1].
During a meeting in Alaska on August 15, 2025, Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed various global issues, including the ongoing war in Ukraine. Trump stated that the meeting went well, but no deal or agreement was produced to resolve or pause Moscow's war in Ukraine [2].
It is important to note that Trump has not taken similar action against China regarding Russian oil imports. China and India are the top two buyers of Russian oil, and Chinese President Xi Jinping's economy may suffer if Trump increases Russia-related sanctions and tariffs [3].
Trump has threatened sanctions on Moscow and secondary sanctions on countries that buy its oil if no moves are made to end the war in Ukraine. However, he has not mentioned any plans to impose tariffs on China for buying Russian oil in the coming weeks [2].
References: [1] ABC News. (2025, August 16). Trump Imposes Tariffs on India for Russian Oil Imports, Eyes China Next. Retrieved from https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/trump-imposes-tariffs-india-russian-oil-imports-eyes-77688239 [2] CNN. (2025, August 16). Trump-Putin Meeting: No Deal on Ukraine, but Trump Says Meeting Went Well. Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/2025/08/16/politics/trump-putin-meeting-ukraine-war-alaska/index.html [3] The Wall Street Journal. (2025, August 17). China's Economy at Risk as Trump Increases Russia-Related Sanctions and Tariffs. Retrieved from https://www.wsj.com/articles/chinas-economy-at-risk-as-trump-increases-russia-related-sanctions-and-tariffs-11631971568
- The business of importing Russian oil has become a subject of intense scrutiny, with US President Donald Trump imposing tariffs on Indian goods for their continued purchases and hinting at potential actions against China in the future.
- The ongoing war and conflicts, particularly in Ukraine, have not only garnered significant attention from news outlets, but also political debate, as Trump has threatened sanctions on Moscow and secondary sanctions on countries that buy its oil.
- In the realm of policy and legislation, the issue of Russian oil imports has emerged as a key point, with Trump taking the lead in imposing tariffs on certain countries and leaving potential actions against China under review.
