Trump warns of tariffs on EU if it does not increase energy purchases from US
US President-elect Donald Trump has warned of permanent tariffs on the EU if the region does not increase energy purchases from the US.
According to RT on December 20, US President-elect Donald Trump wrote on the social network Truth Social that, "they will have to make up for the huge deficit with the US through large-scale purchases of oil and gas from this country."
Mr. Trump warned that if the EU does not do this, the US could impose permanent tariffs on Europe.
Previously, the US President-elect announced his intention to impose 100% tariffs on BRICS, in case the organization creates a common currency, to replace the US dollar.
Also related to gas purchases, Turkish Energy Minister Alparlaslan Bayraktar said that the country has received an exception from the US for Gazprombank to pay for gas purchased from Russia. Accordingly, Türkiye continues to pay for gas purchases from Russia, through Gazprombank, without fear of being sanctioned by Washington.
In late November 2024, the US imposed sanctions onRussia's Gazprombank- this is the channel that handles foreign payments for Russian gas and oil. Türkiye later said that the sanctions had a negative impact on the country and asked the US to make an exception for Gazprombank when Ankara paid for Russian gas.
On December 20, 2024, the historic US sanctions against Gazprombank officially took effect, putting an end to more than half a century of Russia-Europe energy cooperation.
In the spring of 2022, by decree of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Russian gas payments to all unfriendly countries were converted into rubles and could only be paid through Gazprombank. This was a sensible response to Western sanctions. According to the new law, Europeans could no longer send euros and dollars to buy gas from Gazprom's European subsidiaries, but had to transfer them to Gazprombank. And this bank paid in rubles to Gazprom. However, from December 20, 2024, Gazprombank will become a toxic factor for Europeans. Otherwise, if Europe does not pay, Gazprom will be forced to turn off the valve.