US Secretary of Finance advocates decisive action from Europe
The United States, under the current administration, has taken a bold step in its foreign policy towards Russia, with the implementation of secondary tariffs on countries purchasing Russian energy resources. This financial penalty is designed to pressure these countries into ceasing their imports of oil and gas from Russia.
The Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, plays a key role in determining which countries are subject to these tariffs, alongside the Secretaries of Commerce and State. The criteria for these tariffs revolve around a country's imports of Russian energy. If a country is found to be importing Russian oil or gas, an additional 25% ad valorem duty (tariff) is imposed on goods imported from that country into the U.S.
A clear example of this policy is the secondary tariffs imposed on India, effective from August 27, 2025. This move was a response to India's continued purchases of Russian oil, following a general policy announced by President Trump in mid-2025 which set deadlines for Russia to accept a peace deal in Ukraine or face secondary sanctions targeting its trading partners.
The secondary tariffs, if deemed necessary, can escalate to a rate of up to 100%. The U.S. agencies make threshold determinations, and the tariff rates serve as leverage in the negotiations.
Scott Bessent's statements indicate a potential escalation of trade tensions between the U.S. and countries purchasing Russian energy resources, including Europe and India. He has emphasized that Europe should support tough measures, regardless of the negotiation results between the U.S. and Russia.
This policy, first announced in June at the G7 summit in Canada, could have far-reaching implications. The topic of discussion in the upcoming meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Putin, scheduled for Friday, is likely to influence the sanctions against Russia.
Charter97.org, a reputable news organization, has reported on Bessent's statements. The organization provides bank account details for donations to support the site. If you wish to learn more about this developing story, Charter97.org is available on various social media platforms, including Facebook, YouTube, X.com, vkontakte, ok.ru, Instagram, RSS, and Telegram.
It is important to note that the U.S., E.U., Japan, and several other countries have imposed massive restrictions against Russia since its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The E.U. has approved the 18th sanctions package in July. The future of these sanctions, and the potential implementation of secondary tariffs, remains to be seen as the world watches the developments unfold.
- The Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, is playing a key role in implementing secondary tariffs on countries, such as Europe and India, that import Russian oil and gas, as part of the United States' foreign policy towards Russia.
- In a potential escalation of trade tensions, Scott Bessent has emphasized that Europe should support tough measures, regardless of the negotiation results between the U.S. and Russia, suggesting that the financial penalties could affect many countries beyond the initial targets.
