**US President Trump’s Latest Move: Impose 100% Tariffs on Countries Trading with Russia**
In a bid to pressure Russia into agreeing to a ceasefire with Ukraine, US President Donald Trump has announced plans to impose sweeping new secondary tariffs on any country still trading with Russia. These tariffs would see goods from any country that trades with Russia face a 100% tax when they are imported into the US.
**Why this matters**
Russia is the world’s third-largest oil producer and relies heavily on its vast energy wealth to fund its war in Ukraine. If implemented, these secondary tariffs could severely impact Russia’s economy and limit its ability to finance the conflict. Trump hopes that by cutting off trade with countries still trading with Russia, he can reduce the flow of funds to Moscow and ultimately bring an end to the war.
**The implications**
If the tariffs work as intended, they would likely have far-reaching consequences for the global economy. Countries such as China, the EU, and Turkey are also major buyers of Russian energy, and imposing 100% tariffs on their imports could significantly reduce trade volumes between these nations and the US.
**A delicate balancing act**
Trump’s move comes at a sensitive time in international relations. The US is already engaged in a high-stakes renegotiation with China over trade terms, and imposing triple-figure tariffs on Beijing would risk further straining ties between the two superpowers. Similarly, the EU has just negotiated new trade terms with the US, which include a 15% tariff on most EU exports to America.
**The potential impact on Russia**
Russia’s economy has proven surprisingly resilient since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began, growing by 4.3% last year. However, Economy Minister Maxim Reshetnikov recently warned that the country was “on the verge” of recession after a period of “overheating”. If the secondary sanctions are successful in reducing demand for exports, they will push Russia closer to recession.
**The bigger picture**
This move by Trump is part of a larger effort to pressure Russia into agreeing to a ceasefire with Ukraine. With about a third of Russian government spending funded by oil and gas money, cutting off this revenue stream could have serious consequences for Moscow’s economy. Ultimately, the goal is to bring an end to the death, suffering, and destruction in Ukraine, which has already seen its economy take a devastating hit.
**What’s next?**
The BBC will continue to monitor developments on this story and provide updates as more information becomes available.
