President Donald Trump announced plans for sweeping tariffs Wednesday, saying "our country has been looted, pillaged, raped, plundered" by other nations.
However, of the dozens of the countries, including U.S. allies, that are now being hit with retaliatory tariffs, Russia isn't on the list.
Following Trump's Rose Garden announcement, a White House official told NOTUS' Jasmine Wright that Russia is "not on this list because sanctions from the Ukraine war have already rendered trade between the two countries as zero."
The United States has imposed a wide range of sanctions against Russia in response to its invasion of Ukraine, interference in foreign elections, cyberattacks and human rights abuses. These measures target key sectors of the Russian economy, including energy, finance, defense and technology. Major Russian banks have been cut off from the global financial system, assets of Russian oligarchs have been frozen, and export controls have restricted access to critical technologies.
Sanctions have also focused on individuals close to President Vladimir Putin, aiming to pressure the Kremlin by isolating its political and economic elite. In coordination with allies in Europe and Asia, the U.S. has expanded these sanctions since 2022, seeking to weaken Russia's ability to fund its war efforts while supporting Ukraine through military and financial aid.
Senators Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican, and Connecticut Democrat Richard Blumenthal are the lead sponsors of a bipartisan bill which would impose new primary and secondary sanctions against Russia and entities supporting Putin's aggression if Moscow does not engage in peace talks or undermines Ukraine's sovereignty.
Amid concerns the Trump administration would hand Moscow an advantage in peace negotiations, the bill sponsored by 25 Republicans and 25 Democrats signals cross-party consensus against Putin's aggression.
The bill includes imposing 500-percent tariffs on imported goods from countries that buy Russian oil, gas, uranium and other products.
Update: 4/2/25, 6:03 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
This is a developing news story and will be updated as more information is available.
Related Articles
Are Trump's Tariffs Good for America? Newsweek Writers' Verdicts | Opinion
Stocks Plunge After Trump's Sweeping Tariff Announcement
Trump Tariff Chart: Full List of Countries Hit With 'Reciprocal' Tariffs
Why Trump's Sweeping New Tariffs May Backfire: 'It's an Own Goal'
2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
This story was originally published April 2, 2025 at 5:52 PM.