The United States has urged Group of Seven (G7) nations and European Union allies to impose tariffs on China and India for continuing to buy Russian oil, suggesting both countries are “enabling” Moscow’s war in Ukraine.
The appeal was made during a call of G7 finance ministers on Friday, where officials discussed further sanctions on Russia and possible punitive trade measures against countries supporting its war effort.
The push comes as US President Donald Trump has already raised tariffs on Indian imports by an additional 25%, doubling total duties to 50%, in a bid to pressure New Delhi to stop purchasing discounted Russian crude. However, he has refrained from taking similar action against China.
On Friday, US treasury secretary Scott Bessent told counterparts that a united front was essential. “Only with a unified effort that cuts off the revenues funding Putin's war machine at the source will we be able to apply sufficient economic pressure to end the senseless killing,” Bessent and US trade representative Jamieson Greer said in a joint statement, reported news agency Reuters.
Canadian finance minister François-Philippe Champagne, who chaired the meeting, said ministers discussed using frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine’s defense and accelerating sanctions efforts.
{{/usCountry}}Canadian finance minister François-Philippe Champagne, who chaired the meeting, said ministers discussed using frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine’s defense and accelerating sanctions efforts.
{{/usCountry}}“A wide range of possible economic measures to increase pressure on Russia, including further sanctions and trade measures, such as tariffs, on those enabling Russia’s war effort,” were reviewed, Ottawa said in a statement.
Earlier in the day, a US treasury spokesperson explicitly called on G7 and EU allies to impose “meaningful tariffs” on Chinese and Indian goods to push both countries to end Russian oil imports.
India-US ties hit by tariffs
India–US relations came under strain after President Donald Trump imposed steep tariffs on Indian goods, criticizing New Delhi’s continued purchases of Russian crude oil.
However, tensions eased recently when both Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi publicly reaffirmed the long-standing partnership between the two democracies.
Modi on Wednesday called India and the US “close friends and natural partners,” saying, “I am confident that our trade negotiations will pave the way for unlocking the limitless potential of the India-US partnership.”
His remarks came shortly after Trump wrote on Truth Social that the two nations are “continuing negotiations to address the Trade Barriers between our two Nations.”
Despite the pressure, India has continued to source crude from Russia, New Delhi maintains that the move serves national energy security and keeps prices affordable for domestic consumers.