**Russia Left Off US Tariff List Due to Existing Sanctions**
The United States has not included Russia on its list of countries hit with new tariffs. The reason is the existing economic sanctions already in place, according to White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt.
**Tariffs Unveiled by President Trump**
On April 2, US President Donald Trump announced a sweeping list of tariffs on all countries, including Ukraine and major trade partners like the EU. The baseline rate is 10%, but higher rates apply to some countries.
**Russia Not Included Despite Being Major Trade Partner**
Russia and Belarus were not included on the tariff list, unlike other countries with smaller trade volumes, such as Mauritius and Brunei. This is because of the existing economic sanctions imposed against Russia after its invasion of Ukraine in 2022. US-Russia trade flows have significantly decreased from $36 billion in 2021 to about $3.5 billion in 2024.
**US Seeks Ceasefire and Peace Deal**
Trump has hinted at easing some sanctions on Russia as part of efforts to broker a ceasefire and peace deal in Ukraine. At the same time, he has threatened Moscow with secondary tariffs on Russian oil exports due to stalled negotiations.
Read More @ kyivindependent.com