The Trump administration has sent a clear message on its proposed 100% tariffs for India and China: we are “ready to go, ready to go right now.” However, this entire, massive economic strategy is on hold, waiting for just one thing—the agreement of the European Union.
This declaration of readiness, confirmed by a White House official, underscores the administration’s eagerness to escalate economic pressure on Russia’s allies. Frustrated by the stalled peace process in Ukraine, the White House sees this as a decisive, game-changing move.
But the insistence on European partnership makes Brussels the key decision-maker. By stating that “we are only going to do this if our European partners step up with us,” the US has effectively handed the EU a veto over its new policy. This creates a high-pressure situation for European leaders, who must now weigh the risks of joining or spurning the American plan.
This waiting game is taking place on a tight schedule. The US Supreme Court is set to hear a case in early November that could render the entire “ready to go” plan illegal. This gives the EU a very narrow window to make a decision on a controversial policy that could be nullified just weeks after it agrees to it.
