One country not listed on the tariffs on Donald Trump’s US trading partners was Russia.
US outlet Axios cited White House press director Karoline Leavitt, saying this was because existing US sanctions on Russia “eliminate meaningful trade” and that it did not include Cuba, Belarus or North Korea.
But countries with even less trade with the US were listed, including Syria, which exported $11 million in products last year, according to data cited by the UN Trade Economics.
The US imposed massive sanctions on Russia in 2022 following a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Trump has generally adopted a Russian friendly approach since returning to the White House.
He has made war a priority, and this week the top Russian officials will be in Washington for a meeting with his administration.
Last month, Trump threatened to impose 50% tariffs on countries purchasing Russian oil if Russian President Vladimir Putin refuses to agree to a ceasefire.
On Thursday, Russian media also claimed that their country was not on the swept tariff list due to existing sanctions.
“Russia has no tariffs, but that’s not because of special treatment. It’s simply because Western sanctions are already in place against our country,” says state-run Rossia24 TV.
According to Sister Channel Rossia 1, Russia is missing from the list in “many many disappointments in the West”.
Many Kremlin controlled media outlets have said on Fox News, “Russia and Belarus, we don’t trade. They are licensed.”
According to the US Trade Representative, the US imported goods from Russia in 2024.5 billion (£2.7 billion) worth of dollars (£2.7 billion) in value. It was mainly made up of fertilizers, nuclear fuels and several metals.
Some of the Russian reports have chuckled some of the Russian reports, saying that Trump treated European allies as “serfs” who only responded with “moans.”
Many people, such as Zvezda TV, run by the Russian Ministry of Defense, should note that they include uninhabited Heard Island and MacDonald Island on their tariff list.
“It’s like the penguins who have to pay 10% customs duties,” Zvezda said.
Meanwhile, Ukraine faces 10% tariffs on exports to the US.
The country’s first deputy prime minister, Yulia Swillidenko, said the new US tariffs would primarily strike small producers.
She also said that Ukraine is “working to ensure better conditions.”
According to the Deputy Prime Minister, in 2024, Ukraine exported $874 million worth of goods (£642 million) to the United States and imported $3.4 billion from the United States.
“Ukraine has a lot to offer the United States as a trusted ally and partner,” she added. “Fair tariffs will benefit both countries.”
Despite small trade, the United States has provided important material support for the war with Russia. Trump said the US spent between $300 billion and $3500 billion on such aid, but the US Department of Defense said $182.8 billion was “allocated” – who covers US military training and replenishment of US defense stocks in Europe – for Atlantic operations
The United States is also about to arrive at a contract for access to Ukrainian minerals as part of negotiations to end the war.
