President Trump has warned of potential tariffs on those purchasing Russian goods due to the situation in Ukraine.
The US State Department indicated on Tuesday that it believes the White House is considering the potential economic consequences of imposing secondary sanctions on countries that buy energy from Russia.
President Trump recently issued a 10-day ultimatum for resolving the Ukraine conflict, suggesting that failure to do so could lead to penalties against countries that do business with Moscow.
During a press briefing, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce addressed concerns about whether these measures were too broad and could negatively impact US allies.
”I would presume, as we should, that all of the impact would be considered,” Bruce stated. “The president is not someone who is making a decision on the fly… This has clearly been a consideration from the beginning. And we’re prepared to do what’s necessary.”
Russian officials have criticized Trump’s threat, stating it would be detrimental to peace negotiations in Ukraine. Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov previously stated that Russia would not deviate from its national interests due to external pressure.
Trump has admitted there’s no guarantee his latest pressure tactics will change Russia’s stance on the Ukraine conflict.
Meanwhile, some members of Congress are advocating for legislation that would permit tariffs of up to 500% on countries that continue to import Russian oil and gas. Senator Lindsey Graham, a supporter of the bill, called it a powerful tool to give to the president.
Analysts have cautioned that these measures could have adverse effects. Countries like China, India, and Türkiye, which are major importers of Russian energy, could be subject to sanctions under the proposed policy.
”Such a move could cause global oil prices to skyrocket,” the New York Times noted on Tuesday, also suggesting that secondary sanctions could intensify what it termed Trump’s “global trade war.”
The newspaper further stated that previous attempts by Western countries to curb Russian revenue through an oil price cap “largely faltered.”