Overview

• Russia remains exempt from President Trump's sweeping tariffs, which target nearly all other U.S. trading partners.
• The White House justifies the exemption by pointing to existing sanctions that limit trade with Russia, though U.S.-Russia trade in 2024 totaled $3.5 billion.
• Critics argue the move reflects favoritism toward Russia and aligns with Trump's historically conciliatory approach to Vladimir Putin.
• Trump has suggested that leaving Russia off the tariff list preserves leverage for future negotiations over a Ukraine peace deal.
• The exemption coincided with a visit by Kremlin envoy Kirill Dmitriev to Washington, raising further speculation about diplomatic motives.