Moscow looks with satisfaction with the customs taxes announced by Trump: “We expect the enemy's body to float beside us”
Political -themed posters, in Brick Lane, who caricares the presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump. London, March 18, 2025. Photo: Stephen Chung / LNP / Shutterstock Editorial / Profimedia
Russia's Vice -President of the Russian Security Council, Dmitri Medvedev, seems to look with satisfaction the new customs tariffs imposed by the Trump administration, which rocked the world markets on Thursday and shocked many countries, especially the US traditional trading partners, such as the European Union. Former Russian president and prime minister invoked the Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu, saying he was waiting to see floating on the water “The Decomposition Corpule of the EU economy”.
“Currently, Russia almost no longer trade with the US and the EU, almost all the trade being subjected to sanctions. However, our economy now grows by 3%,” said Medvedev, in a message published on the social network X.
“We will follow the advice of Lao Tzu and sit next to the river, waiting for the enemy's body to float next to us. The decaying corpse of the EU economy,” the Russian official added.
As it is, Russia barely does any trade with the us and me, Nearly all of it is under sanctions. Yet, Our Economy is Growing 3% Now. We'll Take the Advice of Lao Tzu and Sit by the River, Wait for the Body of the Enemy to Float by. The Decaying Corpse of the Economy
– Dmitry Medvedev (@medvedevrusiae) April 3, 2025
Dmitri Medvedev, who was president of Russia between 2008 and 2012 and was a period and prime minister, launched criticisms on the West, after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, vehemently denounce the financial and military support of the European Union granted to Kiev.
US President Donald Trump announced customs duties of at least 10% on Wednesday for almost the whole world, with one notable exception: Russia.
The white house spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt told the American Axios website that Russia has been excluded because American sanctions “already prevent any significant trade.”
The secretary of Treasury Scott Bessent also said that the United States does not trade with Russia or Belarus because they are under sanctions.
Why did Russia escaped the customs taxes imposed by Trump to the whole world / How the US explains the exception / Ukraine is on the list of taxed countries
Official data, quoted by Axios and Fox News, shows something else. The US continues to make more trade with Russia than with countries such as Mauritius or Brunei, which were included in Trump's tariff list.
The value of trade between the US and Russia has really decreased from about $ 35 billion in 2021, following the sanctions imposed following the large-scale war in Ukraine, but remained at about $ 3.5 billion in 2024.
Specifically, US goods exports to Russia in 2024 were $ 526.1 million, decreasing by 12.3% compared to 2023, and US goods imports totaled $ 3.0 billion in 2024, decreasing by 34.2% compared to 2023, according to Fox News.
Trump's Wednesday's announcement on customs duties and the exemption of Russia on this list came on the day of an important Washington visit of President Vladimir Putin.
Emissary Kirill Dmitriev met with American officials in Washington on Wednesday, at a time when the Trump administration considers it to increase business with Moscow.
Russia also asked Washigton to raise some sanctions, as part of the fire cessation discussions in the Ukraine war, mediated by the US.
