Trump's Tariff List: Why Russia is Absent and What It Means for Ukraine

One country notably absent from Donald Trump's recent tariff list is Russia. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt explained that existing U.S. sanctions on Russia limit any meaningful trade, with Cuba, Belarus, and North Korea also excluded from the list. In contrast, Syria, which exported only $11 million worth of goods to the U.S. last year, is included. Since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the U.S. has imposed extensive sanctions on Russia. Trump has adopted a generally friendlier stance toward Russia since returning to the White House, prioritizing efforts to end the war. This week, a top Russian official is in Washington for discussions as negotiations for a ceasefire continue. Last month, Trump even threatened to impose a 50% tariff on countries purchasing Russian oil if President Vladimir Putin did not agree to a ceasefire. Russian media echoed the sentiment that Russia's absence from the tariff list stems from these existing sanctions rather than any special treatment. State-run Rossiya 24 TV reported, "No tariffs have been imposed on Russia, but that's not because of some special treatment." Meanwhile, Kremlin-controlled outlets have expressed disappointment that Russia was left off the list, with some mocking Trump's decisions, highlighting the inclusion of remote locations like Heard Island and McDonald Islands. In a related development, Ukraine is set to face a 10% tariff on its exports to the U.S. The country's first deputy prime minister, Yulia Svyrydenko, stated that this tariff would primarily impact small producers, and Ukraine is seeking better terms in trade relations. In 2024, Ukraine exported $874 million worth of goods to the U.S. while importing $3.4 billion. Despite the modest scale of trade, the U.S. has provided considerable material support to Ukraine amid the ongoing conflict, with Trump asserting that the U.S. has spent between $300 billion and $350 billion on such aid. Meanwhile, the Department of Defense has reported that $182.8 billion has been appropriated for Operation Atlantic Resolve, which includes military training and the replenishment of U.S. defense stocks in Europe.