Ukraine, tariffs, oil trap: What Washington is not saying

By
Jai Kumar Sharma
Sat, 27 Sep 2025 4:41:19 WAT

When Donald Trump slapped heavy tariffs on friendly nations like India and Brazil and pushed the European Union to consider heavy tariffs on India and China, the official line was clear: Punish Russia, protect Ukraine. But scratch beneath the surface and a different story emerges—Ukraine may be the headline, but the real drivers of this aggressive trade posture are threefold: oil’s haunting return to centre stage, America’s fading grip on global wealth, and China’s uncomfortable proximity to the top.

In 1975, the United States imposed strict limits on crude oil exports to shield itself from global market volatility. For the next four decades, it played a quiet role in oil production, instead exerting influence through massive investments in the Middle East and military bases strategically placed near oil-rich regions.

Then came a seismic shift: In 2015, President Barack Obama signed legislation lifting the export ban. Fast forward to 2024–2025, and the US is now the world’s largest producer of oil and natural gas, pumping out 20,135 barrels per day—nearly doubling the output of Saudi Arabia (10,856) and Russia (10,752).

But production is only half the battle. The world’s two biggest oil consumers—China and India—still source most of their crude from Russia, the Middle East, Nigeria and other suppliers.

More:
https://dailytrust.com/ukraine-tariffs-oil-trap-what-washington-is-not-saying/