US energy secretary says Trump has yet to decide on tariffs for Russian oil buyers
In short
US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said President Donald Trump has not yet decided whether to impose tariffs on the largest buyers of Russian oil and gas, and will weigh the pros and cons first. Wright said this in an interview with CBS, which noted that under the anti-Russian sanctions law Trump must decide by 18 October whether to impose such tariffs at this stage. Kommersant reported that Trump signed the law on 19 September and that it allows tariffs of up to 100% on goods from the largest buyers of Russian energy, naming China, India and Turkey.
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US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said President Donald Trump has not yet decided whether to impose tariffs on the largest buyers of Russian oil and gas and will make the call after assessing the possible pros and cons. “He leaves every decision to the last moment, he will assess the possible pros and cons,” Wright said in an interview with CBS, according to Interfax. RBC reported the same position, saying the decision would follow an assessment of possible consequences and compromises. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
According to Interfax, CBS noted that under the anti-Russian sanctions law Trump must decide by 18 October whether to impose tariffs at this stage against the largest buyers of Russian energy resources, naming China and India among them. Kommersant also cited the 18 October deadline and added Turkey to the list of large buyers. [ 1 , 3 ]
Kommersant reported that Trump signed the law on 19 September. The outlet said the initiative, sponsored by Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, was called “hell sanctions”, allows tariffs of up to 100% on goods of the largest buyers of Russian energy, and also obliges the president to impose sanctions on Russian officials, agencies, companies and “shadow fleet” vessels. Kommersant added that the tariff is not applied automatically: the president must introduce some restrictions within 30 days but determines their size himself and can make exceptions, so the decision amounts to choosing the scale of pressure. [ 3 ]
The authors of the initiative expect to use access to the US market as leverage on Moscow to push it towards a compromise and bring a settlement of the conflict closer, Kommersant reported. The outlet said high tariffs could also force China and India to cut or halt purchases of Russian oil and gas, and that this change in the behaviour of the largest buyers is one of the consequences to be weighed when choosing the restrictions. [ 3 ]
Wright also said the US would like to maintain good relations with China. He said Washington is working actively on settling the Russia-Ukraine conflict and maintains constant dialogue with both sides, expressing the view that ending the conflict would bring energy prices down, Interfax reported. [ 1 ]
Why it matters
The decision is watched because it could change purchases of Russian oil and gas by the largest buyers, including China and India, and would mark the first use of a law that also targets Russian officials, agencies, companies and vessels. A move against those buyers would affect global energy trade and US relations with the countries concerned. The documents give no indication of Russia's response.
Key facts
- US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said Donald Trump will decide whether to impose tariffs on the largest buyers of Russian oil and gas after assessing the pros and cons. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Wright made the remarks in an interview with CBS. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Under the anti-Russian sanctions law, Trump must decide by 18 October whether to impose tariffs against the largest buyers of Russian energy resources at this stage. [ 1 , 3 ]
- China and India were named as among the largest buyers of Russian energy resources. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Kommersant reported that Trump signed the “hell sanctions” law on 19 September, that it allows tariffs of up to 100% on goods of the largest buyers of Russian energy, and that Turkey is also among them. [ 3 ]
- Kommersant reported that the law also obliges Trump to impose sanctions on Russian officials, agencies, companies and “shadow fleet” vessels. [ 3 ]
- Wright said the US would like to keep good relations with China and that it maintains constant dialogue with both sides about ending the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which he said would lower energy prices. [ 1 ]
- Kommersant reported that the tariff is not automatic: the president sets its size within 30 days and can make exceptions. [ 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Donald Trump has not yet decided whether to impose tariffs on the largest buyers of Russian oil and gas, and will assess the pros and cons first, US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Wright made the statement in an interview with CBS. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Under the sanctions law, a decision on tariffs against buyers of Russian energy resources must be taken by 18 October. [ 1 , 3 ]
- China and India are among the largest buyers of Russian energy resources. [ 1 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- Whether Trump will impose the tariffs, and at what scale. The documents say only that the decision has not been taken and will follow an assessment of consequences; no outcome is stated.
- The 19 September signing of the law, the 100% ceiling, Turkey's inclusion and sanctions on officials, agencies, companies and the “shadow fleet” are reported only by Kommersant in these documents. Single-source claims; other documents describe the law only in general terms.
- The concrete size of any restrictions and any exceptions. Kommersant says the president determines the size and may make exceptions, without specifying them.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Interfax publishes Wright's remarks from the CBS interview, including the 18 October deadline and that China and India are among the largest buyers. [ 1 ]
- RBC reports that Trump will decide on tariffs for the largest buyers of Russian oil and gas after assessing the consequences. [ 2 ]
- Kommersant publishes further detail: the law signed on 19 September, the nickname “hell sanctions”, tariffs of up to 100% and sanctions on officials, agencies, companies and the “shadow fleet”. [ 3 ]