US says Europe refused to join push for tariffs on India, China over Russian oil

The United States asked European countries to coordinate secondary tariffs against India and China. The proposed action would target countries that purchase Russian oil or gas, rather than Russia alone. Washington wanted shared pressure on Moscow and on the buyers supporting its energy revenue.

Scott Bessent said he made this request to European allies in the spring. He said they refused. The proposed tariffs would apply to goods entering the United States from major buyers of Russian-origin crude oil or natural gas. India and China were specifically named.

The request remains part of a wider debate over Trump’s 60-day pause on parts of the sanctions legislation. Bessent said the United States could re-engage European partners. He questioned why America should bear the burden while European countries continue buying Russian energy and supporting Ukraine.

Secondary tariffs are trade penalties aimed at countries that continue buying Russian energy. They do not primarily punish Russia directly. Instead, they pressure outside buyers by threatening tariffs on their goods entering the United States. The goal is to make cooperation with Russia more costly.

The article describes proposed tariffs of up to 100 per cent on goods from countries that are among the largest buyers of Russian crude oil or natural gas. India and China are named examples. By contrast, direct sanctions were imposed on Russian energy companies such as Rosneft and Lukoil.

The difference matters because secondary tariffs can affect several economies at once. They could pressure India, China, or other buyers while also influencing Russia’s energy income. However, the administration paused enforcement for 60 days to assess consequences for global and American economies. No Russian sanctions were lifted, Bessent said.

The proposed tariffs could reach 100 per cent on goods imported into the United States from major buyers of Russian crude oil or natural gas. That is the maximum described in the article. The measure would therefore affect trade with countries such as India and China, not only Russian companies.

The article gives a detailed figure for European-linked shipments from Russia’s Yamal facility. It says 140 cargoes left during the first six months of the year, and 136 went to European countries. Those shipments were worth more than $8 billion. Belgium, Spain, France, and the Netherlands were among the destinations.

It does not provide separate dollar or volume figures for India and China. It identifies them as among the largest buyers of Russian-origin energy. Bessent also said European countries imported more than ten times the $4 billion in Russian products imported by the United States, though that comparison covers products rather than only energy.

Targeting buyers is meant to reduce the money flowing to Russia from energy sales. Russia can continue earning revenue when countries purchase its oil and gas, even after direct sanctions hit Russian companies. Secondary tariffs try to make those purchases harder or more expensive for the buyers.

The article says the legislation could impose tariffs of up to 100 per cent on goods from major buyers of Russian-origin crude oil or natural gas. India and China are included. Bessent also criticised Europe, saying 136 of 140 cargoes from Russia’s Yamal facility went to European countries during the first six months of the year.

The United States also wants allies to share the economic and political burden. Bessent said European countries refused Washington’s spring request to impose coordinated tariffs. He argued that Europe continues buying Russian energy while supporting Ukraine. The administration is now using a 60-day pause to assess consequences and consider further action.

Sanctions and tariffs could change where countries obtain energy and how much it costs. If major buyers face penalties for Russian imports, they may seek supplies elsewhere or reduce purchases. That could place pressure on global energy supplies and potentially influence prices, although the article does not predict a specific price change.

Marco Rubio said the administration was studying what imposing both sanctions and tariffs would mean for the global economy and the US economy. He also cited pressure on energy supplies linked to the Iran war, Houthi attacks in Saudi Arabia, and the Russia-Ukraine conflict. These concerns are why enforcement was paused for 60 days.

The possible effects are therefore wider than Russia’s export income. India and China could face trade penalties, while European countries could confront pressure over their continuing purchases. The administration says it will use the pause to assess these consequences before deciding on further measures. The article does not state what final policy will be adopted.

European countries may keep purchasing Russian energy because replacing those supplies can be difficult while they still need reliable energy. The article presents this as a contradiction: European governments support Ukraine but continue buying Russian oil and gas. Bessent said Europe had given Russia and Vladimir Putin more money than it had given Ukraine.

The article does not explain every European country’s energy choices or identify detailed alternatives. It does mention that India has diversified its energy supplies but cannot immediately stop importing Russian energy. This illustrates the basic problem: diversification may reduce dependence, but it does not create an instant replacement.

Europe could face pressure to reduce these purchases through tariffs, sanctions, or political demands. Bessent highlighted shipments from Russia’s Yamal facility, with 136 of 140 cargoes going to European countries in six months. The article also notes the UK waived an embargo on diesel and jet fuel made using Russian crude in May.

Tariffs and sanctions use economic pressure to influence governments and companies. Direct sanctions can restrict dealings with named Russian firms. Secondary tariffs threaten the trade of outside countries that continue buying Russian energy. Both tools make certain relationships more expensive or difficult.

The article gives two examples. Trump sanctioned Rosneft and Lukoil, which Bessent said dealt a catastrophic blow to Russia’s energy industry. The proposed legislation would impose tariffs of up to 100 per cent on goods from major buyers of Russian oil or gas. That creates a choice for buyers: continue purchasing Russian energy while risking tariffs, or change their behavior.

Because economies are interconnected, the effects can spread beyond the original target. Rubio said officials needed to study consequences for global and American economies. He also cited pressure on energy supplies from several conflicts. The 60-day pause gives the administration time to assess these links before deciding whether to impose further measures.