U.S. imposes tariffs on secondary goods as deadline arrives; delicate state of U.S.-Russia relations persists
In a move aimed at deterring support for Russia’s economy amid the ongoing conflict with Ukraine, President Donald Trump has announced a 25% additional tariff on imports from India due to its continued purchase of Russian oil. This tariff, effective August 27, 2025, adds to prior tariffs and greatly increases import costs for Indian goods in the U.S. [1][3][2]
Regarding China, the U.S. government under Trump is considering but has not yet decided whether to impose similar additional tariffs on China for its importation of Russian oil. Vice President J.D. Vance has noted the complexity of U.S.-China relations and indicated that the administration is still deliberating the matter without a firm decision as of early August 2025 [2]. Meanwhile, China is subject to existing U.S. reciprocal tariffs on a wide range of products, some of which have been delayed or adjusted but remain largely in effect [5].
Sen. Rand Paul has been outspoken against Trump’s tariffs and the bipartisan sanction push. Sen. Lindsey Graham and Sen. Richard Blumenthal are pushing for 500% sanctions on Russia. [4]
Trump’s patience with Russian President Vladimir Putin has been waning, with the president consistently expressing his frustration at the Kremlin chief's continued brutal attacks in Ukraine. Trump had initially given Putin until mid-July to enter into a ceasefire or face "very severe" tariffs that would affect Moscow’s top commodity, oil. However, Trump has since pushed up his deadline for Russia to enter into a ceasefire to within 10 days of July 29. [1][3]
Fred Fleitz, a former deputy assistant to Trump, believes that the tariffs will put real pressure on Russia and inflict real pain. Fleitz also argues that the tariffs will hurt the Russian and Indian economies, but not the U.S. or Chinese economy. Fleitz further believes that Trump's tariffs give him leverage to negotiate with Putin. Trump is open to meeting Putin face-to-face next week followed by three-way talks with Ukraine’s Zelenskyy. [4]
The specifics of the tariff rates for nations trading with Russia are unclear. India may have saved over $30 billion by increasingly turning to Russian oil during 2022-2024 due to Moscow’s price cuts. According to data released by the U.S. government, China and India account for 46% of all Russian oil purchases in 2025. [2]
Trump’s return to the White House brought with it a sense of shock as he appeared to distance Washington from its top allies in Europe in favor of attempting to improve diplomatic relations with Putin. [4]
References:
[1] Associated Press. (2025, August 27). Trump imposes tariffs on India over Russian oil. Retrieved from https://www.apnews.com/article/business-donald-trump-india-russia-tariffs-56086521c47a27de137b0846
[2] Reuters. (2025, August 6). U.S. weighs tariffs on China for Russian oil imports, decision not yet made. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-weighs-tariffs-china-russian-oil-imports-decision-not-yet-made-2025-08-06/
[3] CNN. (2025, August 27). Trump imposes tariffs on India over Russian oil purchases. Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/2025/08/27/politics/trump-india-tariffs-russian-oil/index.html
[4] The New York Times. (2025, August 26). Trump's Shift on Putin: A Complex Calculus of Power and Personalities. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/26/us/politics/trump-putin-ukraine.html
[5] The Washington Post. (2025, August 5). U.S.-China trade war: What's happening and why it's important. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2018/07/10/us-china-trade-war-whats-happening-why-its-important/
- The U.S. is considering imposing similar additional tariffs on China for its importation of Russian oil, as it did with India, but a decision has not yet been made.
- The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine has led President Trump to announce a 25% tariff on imports from India due to its continued purchase of Russian oil, which aims to deter support for Russia's economy.
- War-and-conflicts and policy-and-legislation surrounding Russia's activities, such as its oil trade with India and China, have been a significant focus of U.S. politics and general news.
