Even as dark legal clouds loom over his existing trade policies, President Donald Trump is pushing the European Union to join a new tariff war against India and China. The proposal calls for joint US-EU duties of up to 100% on the two nations to pressure them into cutting economic ties with Russia, thereby helping to end the war in Ukraine. The plan was presented to EU officials during talks in Washington.
The legal jeopardy is significant. The Supreme Court is set to hear a case in November that will determine the constitutionality of the president’s authority to set tariffs, an authority lower courts have ruled he exceeded. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has admitted that a loss would force the US to refund tens of billions of dollars, creating a massive fiscal problem.
Despite this risk, the administration is forging ahead with this even more ambitious tariff proposal. The push is motivated by a lack of progress in Ukraine peace talks and by Russia’s escalating aggression. A White House official stated the US is ready to act but has made it a “partners only” mission, requiring the EU’s full participation before moving forward.
The strategy aims to counter the growing alliance between Russia, China, and India, which has been a lifeline for Moscow’s economy. The US has already imposed a 50% tariff on India for its Russian energy purchases. This new proposal seeks to build a powerful transatlantic coalition to escalate that pressure dramatically.
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