In a bold strategic move, President Donald Trump has proposed that NATO consider levying tariffs of up to 100% on China for its economic support of Russia, while simultaneously making new U.S. sanctions on Moscow conditional on a total NATO oil embargo. This dual-front economic strategy aims to dismantle the financial pillars supporting Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Writing on his Truth Social platform, the president presented a clear and demanding plan. He stated his readiness to enact “major sanctions on Russia” but only “when all NATO Nations have agreed, and started, to do the same thing.” The core of his demand is an immediate and complete stop to all Russian oil purchases by every member of the alliance, a move that would significantly impact several European economies.
The most novel part of his proposal is the targeting of China. Trump suggested that a collective NATO tariff of “50% to 100% on China” would be a highly effective tool to pressure Beijing, which has deepened its economic ties with Moscow. This punitive trade measure would be explicitly linked to the war, with Trump noting it would be “fully withdrawn” after the conflict ends, presenting it as a direct means to save lives and conclude the hostilities.
The president’s post criticized the alliance’s current level of commitment, claiming it “has been far less than 100%.” By linking U.S. action to the behavior of its allies and their trade partners, Trump is attempting to force a more aggressive and unified economic stance from a military alliance wrestling with the war’s complex global fallout.