New Delhi, 10 Sep

US President Donald Trump has asked the European Union to impose tariffs of up to 100 per cent on India and China to pressure Russia to end the war in Ukraine, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday.

The move follows Trump doubling US tariffs on Indian goods to 50 per cent, including a 25 per cent duty on India’s purchase of Russian crude, which New Delhi called “unfair, unjustified and unreasonable.”

Trump reportedly made the demand during a Washington meeting between senior US and EU officials, with Washington ready to “mirror” any tariffs imposed by the EU on India and China.

India has defended its Russian oil imports, citing national interest and market dynamics, noting Russia’s share of its oil imports rose from 1.7 per cent in 2019-20 to 35.1 per cent in 2024-25, making it the country’s biggest oil supplier.

The report comes amid Trump’s renewed push to end the Ukraine conflict, including recent summit talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska.