Quotes
This looks like leniency of a symbolic nature,
political scientist and American studies expert Alexandra Filippenko told DW
I think political pressure will be exerted on Russia in one way or another, but during Dmitriev's visit, tariffs are rather counterproductive,
she told DW
The Russian authorities have understood the political signal,
she said, referring to a Telegram post by the Russian president's special envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, who is currently in WashingtonRussia is not on this list because sanctions from the Ukraine war have already rendered trade between the two countries as zero."
Another official said
They are already facing extremely high tariffs, and our previously imposed sanctions preclude any meaningful trade with these countries."
A White House official told The New York TimesIf Russia and I are unable to make a deal on stopping the bloodshed in Ukraine, and if I think it was Russia’s fault — which it might not be — but if I think it was Russia’s fault, I am going to put secondary tariffs on oil, on all oil coming out of Russia,
Trump said during an NBC interview
That would be that if you buy oil from Russia, you can’t do business in the United States,
he added[The ... The US has been] looted, pillaged, raped and plundered by nations near and far, both friend and foe alike."
He added
With today's announcement, US tariffs will approach levels not seen since the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act of 1930, which incited a global trade war and deepened the Great Depression."
Scott Lincicome and Colin Grabow, trade specialists from the conservative Cato Institute, said
When McKinley most famously put tariffs on in 1890, they lost 50% of their seats... In the early 1930s, we lost the house and senate for 60 years. So not only bad economically, they are bad politically."
Republican Senator Rand PaulImposed at a time when both US industrial capacity and family wealth – which has nearly quadrupled since 1989 – are at all-time highs, Trump's risible rhetoric about the economic power of tariffs is, like his trade strategy, detached from reality. The only thing these tariffs will "liberate" is money from Americans' wallets."
Scott Lincicome and Colin Grabow of Cato Institute, in a statement on X (formerly Twitter
Never before has an hour of Presidential rhetoric cost so many people so much. Markets continue to move after my previous tweet. The best estimate of the loss from tariff policy is now is closer to $30 trillion or $300,000 per family of four."
Former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers, on X
There will never have been a transformation of a Country like the transformation that is happening, for all to see, in the United States of America. Companies are pouring into our Country at levels never seen before, with Jobs (and Money!) to follow. It is a beautiful thing to watch!"
President Donald Trump on Truth SocialIn the face of unrelenting economic warfare, the United States can no longer continue with a policy of unilateral economic surrender,
Trump said as he presented the tariffs
Russia not mentioned anywhere on Trump's list of tariffs. Do you get it now?"
The Lincoln Project, an anti-Trump organization founded by former Republican strategists, wrote on X, formerly Twitter
Can anyone tell me why Russia is just about the only country—if not the ONLY country—that is exempt from Trump's tariffs?"
Jon Cooper, a former Democratic majority leader of the Suffolk County Legislature in New York, wrote on X
I think just underlines that Trump is desperate to be liked by Putin. Weird on so many levels."
Timothy Ash, an emerging markets strategist at BlueBay Asset Management, told NewsweekWe don't trade with Russia and Belarus because of sanctions."
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent
I hope the American people get an explanation for this. I find it outrageous."
Michael McFaul, a former U.S. ambassador to Russia who served during the Obama administration, wrote on the platformMy fellow Americans, this is liberation day, we've been waiting for a long time,
Trump said