...weaponisation of tariff is what Trump loves to do.
...he can't hit Russia directly, so he must hurt those who do business with them, just as he did with Venezuela, and they all point to China, without naming China. Trump ‘pissed off’ with Putin, threatens tariffs on Russian oil Skylar Woodhouse and Alex Longley
Mar 31, 2025 – 6.45am
Washington | President Donald Trump said he’s “pissed off” at Russian President Vladimir Putin and would consider “secondary tariffs” on Russian oil if a ceasefire with Ukraine can’t be reached, NBC News reported.
Trump said he was “very angry” about Putin’s recent comments suggesting ways to install new leadership in Ukraine and sideline President Volodymyr Zelensky, NBC reported, citing a phone interview with Trump on Sunday (Monday AEDT). New leadership in Ukraine means “you’re not going to have a deal for a long time, right”, he said.
“I was pissed off about it. But if a deal isn’t made, and if I think it was Russia’s fault, I’m going to put secondary sanctions on Russia,” Trump told NBC, saying he meant “all oil coming out of Russia”. He said he plans to speak to Putin this week.
Russia is one of the world’s three largest oil producers, meaning any attempt to punish purchases of Russian supplies could have a far-reaching effect on the oil market, and any disruptions could add to inflationary pressures.
India and China, which have become the key buyers of Russian barrels since Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, would face particular pressure.
Trump said if he can’t make “a deal on stopping the bloodshed in Ukraine, and if I think it was Russia’s fault — which it might not be — but if I think it was Russia’s fault, I am going to put secondary tariffs on oil”.
“That would be that if you buy oil from Russia, you can’t do business in the United States,” he said. “There will be a 25 per cent tariff on all – on all oil, a 25- to 50-point tariff on all oil.”
