Washington, Oct 19: The United States sought European support for secondary tariffs on India and China over their purchases of Russian energy, but its allies refused, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Sunday, defending Washington’s decision to suspend enforcement of new sanctions against countries trading with Moscow.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright separately identified India and China as the two principal countries that could face penalties under the new sanctions law, but said President Donald Trump had retained the authority to impose them later.
The remarks by two senior Cabinet officials offered fresh details about the administration’s approach to Russian energy trade and its efforts to coordinate economic pressure on Moscow with European governments. Appearing on NBC’s Meet the Press, Bessent said European countries continued to purchase substantial quantities of Russian energy while declining to join Washington’s proposed action against India and China.
“So we have asked, in the spring, I asked our European allies to join us in putting secondary tariffs on China, on India. They refused,” Bessent said. “So why should the U.S. bear the burden?” he asked. Bessent accused European governments of continuing to finance Russia through energy purchases. (IANS)