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Russia is the brilliant omission of Donald Trump’s rates. Together with Cuba, Belo -Rusland and North Korea, it was saved the fatty measures, with America’s enemies apparently treated better than many of his friends.
The explanation given by the White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt to the US Setting Aaxios was that the existing sanctions ‘prevented any significant trade’ Russia.
But the numbers are not completely back.
It is certainly true that trade in the US Russia is not what it was. The war in Ukraine saw it drop from $ 35 billion (£ 26.6 billion) in 2021 to $ 3.5 billion (£ 2.6bn) in 2024.
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But last year’s figure was still higher than Washington’s trade volume with Kyiv ($ 2.9 billion, £ 2.2bn), and that did not prevent Ukraine from being slapped by 10% charges.
It is also significantly more than the US with people like Brune ($ 366 million, £ 278m) and Mauritius ($ 282.5m, £ 214.9 million) – two more countries that did not escape the penalties.
Which is more, of Donald Trump’s The point of view, the vast majority of American Russia trade is in the wrong direction, ie in America. Of these, $ 3.5 billion (£ 2.6bn) in 2024 was $ 3 billion (£ 2.2bn) Russian imports, such as fertilizer and aluminum, which gives a shortage that is much worse (proportionally speaking) than some of those on the naughty list.
So what’s behind Russia’s release?
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Many people believe it is of further favor to the Kremlin.
“I hope the US population gets an explanation for this. I find it scandalous,” wrote Michael McFaul, a former US ambassador to Russia.
Donald Trump has been lamb by critics because he is not tough enough Vladimir Putin While arriving for a peace agreement in Ukraine.
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Trump ‘disappointed’ in Putin
He recently threatened to impose secondary sanctions on Russian oil as Moscow obstructed a ceasefire, but this latest softball makes these threats sound hollow.
His tariff The announcement also coincided with a visit to Washington by Kremlin Gesant Kirill Dmitriev, who is the highest Russian official to travel to the US since the invasion of Moscow.
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Trump tariffs: Confirmation for the Prime Minister?
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Former Goldman Sachs banker, who is head of Russia’s Sovereign Wealth Fund, meets US officials, including Steve Witkoff. Was the timing of his journey coincidentally? Or a reminder of Team Trump to what’s at stake?
Moscow made it very clear to Washington that profitable transactions should be done if the relationships continue to thaw. It is not difficult to see how new levies can derail it.
Read more from Sky News:
How will Trump’s rates affect the UK?
Analysis: Rates are more than economy
Pick up the rates?
There is an alternative view – that it is all part of Donald Trump’s famous negotiation strategy. Hold something back to use with a greater effect on the line.
“One of the reasons why Russia is not on Trump’s tariff list yesterday is that rates should be left as a tool to force Russia to peace,” wrote Alexander Baunov, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center.
“If they are being introduced now, what will they threaten within a week?”
There is an answer to it – more sanctions.
But for the time being, the US seems to be satisfied to visit the Kremlin rather than force it. The question is, who calls the shots?
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