
Trump's oil tariff plan: Big talk, big problems
Trump says he'll put a 100% tariff (which means doubling the price) on things those countries sell to the US if they keep buying from Russia. But he's giving them 50 days before the rule starts — which gives Russia time to keep doing what it's doing.
Why does this matter? Because countries like India now buy a lot of oil from Russia — about 40% of their oil. Before the war, it was just 1%! China gets 20% of its oil from Russia. If Trump really adds this tax, both countries might have to change their oil suppliers.
The idea behind Trump's plan is to hurt Russia's economy by hitting its biggest moneymaker — oil and gas. Russia earns more than half of its export money from selling fuel. In fact, since the war started, Russia has made almost $1 trillion from selling fossil fuels.
But here's the problem: if countries stop buying Russian oil, oil prices might shoot up. That could make life more expensive for everyone — including people in the US. Also, if the US charges more on products from India or China, things like clothes, electronics, and toys might cost more in American stores.
And here's where the plan feels unfair: the US is still buying nuclear fuel (called uranium) from Russia! Even when it said it would stop, it gave itself extra time and allowed some companies to keep buying it. And Europe is still buying Russian gas until 2027.
So while Trump and other leaders are telling countries like India to stop buying from Russia, they're not stopping completely themselves. That's why this whole thing looks more like politics than true action.
India should watch carefully and do what's best for itself — just like everyone else is doing.
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