Russia was one of the countries notably absent from Donald Trump’s list of tariffs on US trade partners.
According to a report by the US outlet Axios, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt indicated that this exclusion was due to existing US sanctions on Russia that “preclude any meaningful trade,” mentioning that Cuba, Belarus, and North Korea were also omitted.
In contrast, countries with even lower trade volumes with the US—like Syria, which had exports of $11 million last year as per UN data cited by Trading Economics—were included on the list.
The US has enacted extensive sanctions against Russia following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Since returning to the White House, Trump has generally adopted a more conciliatory stance towards Russia.
He has prioritized an end to the conflict, and notable Russian officials are currently in Washington for discussions with his administration, as negotiations for a potential agreement continue.
Recently, Trump warned that he would impose a 50% tariff on countries purchasing Russian oil if Russian President Vladimir Putin did not agree to a ceasefire.
Additionally, Russian media suggested that their absence from the tariffs list is attributed to ongoing sanctions.
State-run Rossiya 24 TV quoted, “No tariffs have been imposed on Russia, but that’s not due to any special favor; it’s simply because existing Western sanctions are already in effect against our country.”
Furthermore, Rossiya 1 reported that Russia’s absence from the tariffs was “to the disappointment of many in the West.”
Various Kremlin-affiliated media have highlighted comments from US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who stated to Fox News that “Russia and Belarus, we don’t trade with. They’re sanctioned.”
According to data from the Office of the US Trade Representative, the US imported goods valued at $3.5 billion (£2.7 billion) from Russia in 2024, consisting mainly of fertilizers, nuclear fuel, and select metals, as per Trading Economics and Russian media sources.
Some Russian outlets have taken a sarcastic approach, with pro-Kremlin NTV claiming Trump treats America’s European allies as “serfs” who merely respond with complaints.
Many, including Zvezda TV, affiliated with Russia’s defense ministry, have noted the inclusion of uninhabited territories like Heard Island and the McDonald Islands on the tariffs list.
Zvezda jokingly remarked, “Looks like it’s some penguins who will have to pay the 10% tariff.”
On the other hand, Ukraine is facing a 10% tariff on its exports to the US.
Yulia Svyrydenko, Ukraine’s first deputy prime minister, noted that the new US tariff would primarily impact small producers.
She also mentioned that Ukraine is “working to secure better terms.”
In 2024, Ukraine exported $874 million (£642 million) worth of goods to the US while importing $3.4 billion from the US, according to the deputy prime minister.
“Ukraine has much to offer the United States as a reliable ally and partner,” she emphasized. “Fair tariffs benefit both nations.”
Despite its relatively small trade volume, the US has provided substantial material support to Ukraine’s fight against Russia. Trump has claimed that the US has expended $300-$350 billion on such aid, whereas the US Department of Defense reported that $182.8 billion had been “appropriated”—a figure that includes US military training in Europe and the replenishment of US defense stocks under Operation Atlantic Resolve.
The US is also working towards establishing a deal for access to Ukrainian minerals as part of the negotiations aimed at concluding the conflict.
