President Donald Trump is once again reaching for his go-to weapon in international relations—the tariff threat—this time aiming it squarely at China in connection with the war in Ukraine. He is proposing that NATO collectively adopt his signature tactic to pressure Beijing.
In a plan outlined on social media, Trump suggested that the transatlantic alliance should impose tariffs of “50% to 100% on China.” This is a direct consequence of Beijing’s deepening economic ties with Moscow, which the President sees as a major obstacle to ending the conflict.
This proposal to weaponize tariffs on a massive scale is the centerpiece of the second part of his strategy, complementing his demand for a NATO-wide oil ban on Russia. It shows his unwavering faith in the power of import taxes to bend other nations to his will.
Having already placed a 25% tax on India for similar reasons, this new proposal demonstrates a willingness to escalate the tariff threat to unprecedented levels. It confirms that for the Trump administration, trade policy and foreign policy are not just linked; they are one and the same.