President Donald Trump is proposing to open a two-front economic war against China and India in order to weaken their ally, Russia. The plan calls for the United States and the European Union to act in concert, imposing punitive tariffs of up to 100% on goods from both Asian economic giants. The ultimate goal is to cut off the support that has allowed Vladimir Putin to continue his war in Ukraine.
This bold strategy was laid out for visiting EU officials in Washington and is a product of Trump’s growing impatience with the lack of a diplomatic solution to the conflict. The administration has made it clear that this is a joint venture, stating that the US will not move forward without the full commitment of its European partners.
The focus on China and India is a direct response to their strengthening alliances with Moscow, which have served as a critical economic lifeline for the Kremlin. The US has already taken a preliminary step, hitting India with a 50% tariff for its energy trade with Russia. This new proposal aims to amplify that pressure on a massive scale.
This aggressive international posture is complicated by a major domestic legal hurdle. The Supreme Court is set to deliver a final verdict on the president’s authority to impose such tariffs. A loss would be a significant blow, forcing the treasury to issue tens of billions of dollars in refunds and undermining a key tool of Trump’s foreign policy.