Be prepared for the imposition of higher duties on China and other countries that continue to buy imported fuel from Russiaurged European countries by the Minister of Finance USAScott Bessed. He expressed his disappointment on the cold response he received when he proposed this measure to the Seven (G7) team earlier this year.
The US Ministry of Finance said sanctions against Russia “can increase” or “relax” depending on the outcome of the meeting scheduled for Friday (15.8.2025) between President Donald Trump and President Vladimir Putin. However, Europeans must in any case support the idea of taking stricter measures.
“Europeans need to participate in these sanctions,” Bessed said in an interview on Bloomberg television, adding: “They must do it.”
“Either they will do it or they will be silent,” Bessed commented. “We imposed a secondary tariff fees on the Indians on the market for Russian oil. And if things are not going well, then sanctions or secondary tariff charges could increase. “
It is noted that the United States, along with European countries, Japan and other countries, have imposed sanctions on Russia since the launch of the country’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The European Union has adopted the 18th package of sanctions against Russia in July, including Russian energy resources.
However, Bessed seemed to refer to the use of so -called secondary duties by Trump in Russian energy markets. Trump imposed a 25% duty on the products from India – which will come into force later this month – for Russian energy markets from the country, in addition to the 25% basic duty.
At a recent G-7 meeting in Canada, Besed said that “he looked at all the leaders around the table and asked:” Are everyone on this table willing to impose a 200% secondary duty on China? And you know what happened? Everyone wanted to see what kind of shoes they were wearing. “
Bessed said Trump “will make clear to President Putin that all the choices are on the table”.