The United States has excluded Russia and Belarus from its latest tariff measures due to the extensive economic sanctions already in place. White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt stated that these sanctions have significantly curtailed trade with both countries, rendering additional tariffs unnecessary. President Donald Trump's recent tariff announcement included a baseline 10% tariff on imports from nearly all countries, including Ukraine, but specifically excluded Russia and Belarus.
Following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the U.S. imposed stringent economic sanctions, causing trade between the two nations to plummet from $36 billion in 2021 to approximately $3.5 billion in 2024. Leavitt noted that other heavily sanctioned countries, such as Cuba and North Korea, were also excluded from the new tariff list. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent advised against retaliatory actions from foreign governments, suggesting that the current tariffs might represent the peak of trade restrictions.
Trump's new tariff policy includes a baseline 10% tariff on all imports, with higher rates imposed on major trade partners. The European Union faces a 20% tariff, China 34%, and Taiwan 32%. Canada and Mexico are excluded due to pre-existing duties. While Russia and Belarus are exempt from these new tariffs due to existing sanctions, Trump has hinted at potentially easing some sanctions on Moscow to facilitate a ceasefire and peace agreement in Ukraine, while also warning of possible secondary tariffs on Russian oil exports if negotiations stall.