Russia Omitted from Trump’s List; Senate, Including GOP Members, Rebukes Canada Tariffs
WASHINGTON, DC – On April 2, President Donald Trump announced a sweeping new round of tariffs, escalating a global trade war that could fuel inflation and slow economic growth. But one major omission stood out—Russia.
While unveiling the tariffs, Trump held up a chart listing affected countries, including India and even war-torn Ukraine. Yet, Russia was conspicuously absent.
The White House later explained that Russia was left off the list because U.S. sanctions already “preclude any meaningful trade.” However, media reports note that the U.S. still conducts more trade with Russia than with smaller nations like Mauritius and Brunei, both of which are facing new tariffs.
Since returning to office, Trump has sought to portray himself as a peacemaker, attempting—so far unsuccessfully—to negotiate with Russian President Vladimir Putin. While countries like India are actively engaging with the Trump administration to avoid economic penalties, Trump appears to be extending an olive branch to Putin, possibly to boost his own image as a dealmaker if he can broker a peace agreement.
Other sanctioned nations—Belarus, Cuba, and North Korea—were also exempt from tariffs. Meanwhile, major U.S. partners Canada and Mexico, previously targeted by Trump’s tariffs, were spared. China, already facing a 20% tariff due to its alleged role in fentanyl trafficking, saw its rate jump to 54% under the new measures.
Bipartisan opposition to Trump’s trade policies is growing. On April 2, a group of Republican senators joined Democrats in passing a resolution to overturn Trump’s 25% tariffs on Canadian imports. The measure passed 51-48, with GOP Senators Rand Paul (R-KY), Susan Collins (R-ME), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Mitch McConnell (R-KY) voting against the tariffs.
Democrats framed the resolution as a safeguard against escalating tensions with Canada, a key U.S. trading partner. They warned that Trump’s tariffs could put an estimated 6.5 million American jobs at risk.
