The Price of Sanctions: Trump Asks NATO for Total Oil Ban and China Tariffs

President Donald Trump has set a steep price for new, major U.S. sanctions against Russia: a total oil ban from all NATO allies and their participation in a massive tariff campaign against China. This high-stakes proposal effectively asks the alliance to commit to a full-scale economic war.
In a weekend Truth Social post, the President outlined his terms. While he is prepared to escalate economic pressure on Moscow, he will not do so unless the entire NATO alliance is unified in cutting off all oil revenue to Russia. He criticized the current situation, where billions continue to flow to Moscow from allied nations, as “shocking.”
The price of U.S. leadership also includes confronting China. Trump has urged his NATO partners to join in imposing punitive tariffs of 50% to 100% on Chinese imports. This would be a direct penalty for Beijing’s role in helping Russia weather existing sanctions and would serve as a powerful tool to force an end to the conflict.
The alliance must now calculate if the price is right. Agreeing to Trump’s terms would mean significant economic disruption for several members and a major confrontation with China, but it would unlock the full force of American economic power against Russia.