Trump's global tariffs exclude Russia amid ongoing sanctions

• President Trump announced new tariffs: On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump announced the introduction of broad retaliatory tariffs that will cover many countries, although not Russia.
• Russia is not on the list: Russia has been omitted from the new tariffs because sanctions related to the war in Ukraine have already reduced trade between the US and Russia to zero, explains the White House.
• New sanctions in preparation: American senators are working on a bill that will introduce new sanctions against Russia if it does not engage in peace talks with Ukraine.

After President Trump's announcement of the new tariffs, the question was raised as to why Russia is not on the list of countries affected by these actions. As explained by a White House representative quoted by "Newsweek," Russia was omitted because existing sanctions related to the war in Ukraine have effectively reduced trade between the US and Russia to zero.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent explained in an interview with Fox News that Russia is not on the list because the United States does not trade with it. "Well, Russia and Belarus we don’t trade with. Right?," he said. "They are sanctioned," he added.

According to "Newsweek," American senators, including Lindsey Graham and Richard Blumenthal, are preparing a bill that will introduce new sanctions against Russia. The bill provides for the imposition of tariffs as high as 500 per cent on goods imported from countries purchasing Russian oil, gas, and uranium. Additionally, Trump announced the introduction of "secondary tariffs" on countries that continue to trade with Russia if Moscow does not agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine.