EU Unlikely To Levy Steep Tariffs On India, China Despite Trump Push: Reports

Last Updated:September 11, 2025, 07:05 IST

Unlike sanctions, tariffs in the EU require a formal investigation that typically runs for months to establish a defensible legal basis, the sources noted.

Donald Trump had earlier asked EU to tariff India and China over Russian oil. (AI-generated image)

The European Union is unlikely to impose steep tariffs on India or China, the largest buyers of Russian oil, despite calls from President Donald Trump to do so, EU sources told Reuters.

An EU delegation, including the bloc’s top official on Russia sanctions, travelled to Washington this week for talks on coordinating measures against Moscow over its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

During the meetings, President Trump urged the EU to consider tariffs of up to 100% on India and China to pressure President Vladimir Putin by squeezing Russia’s energy revenues, the officials said.

The European Commission, however, did not respond to a request for comment, reported Reuters.

The European Union has already tightened its Russia regime, adding two Chinese banks and a major Indian refinery in its July package, but sweeping tariffs remain a separate matter and a far higher bar, EU sources said.

Unlike sanctions, tariffs in the EU require a formal investigation that typically runs for months to establish a defensible legal basis, the sources noted. To date, the bloc has used tariffs tied to the Ukraine war only on Russian and Belarusian fertilisers and certain farm goods, arguing the measures were needed to prevent strategic dependence and protect EU fertiliser producers.

“So far, there is no discussion on possible tariffs, neither on India… nor with China," an EU diplomat said.

Brussels is also deep into negotiations on a trade agreement with New Delhi—an effort the bloc is unlikely to jeopardise. President Trump’s stance on India appeared to soften by Wednesday, when he said he was seeking to reset trade ties with New Delhi.

Several officials cautioned that broad tariffs carry significant risks and can be overly blunt. Targeted listings are easier to calibrate, they said, because specific entities can be removed if they halt Russia-related business.

Until now, EU designations beyond Russia have largely focused on smaller third-country entities—often shell companies accused of routing military or dual-use goods to Russia’s war effort.

Looking ahead, the EU’s 19th sanctions package is expected to propose listing banks in two Central Asian countries as well as Chinese refineries, which could be tabled as soon as Friday, according to one source.

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