Donald Trump weaponized U.S. tariffs to protect corporate allies, pressure foreign governments, and advance political goals far outside trade policy

Internal documents obtained by The Washington Post reveal that the Trump administration leveraged tariff negotiations to pursue political and strategic objectives far beyond trade policy — including threatening India with a 50% import tax unless it cut off Russian oil purchases.

Officials described the files as “shocking” in scope, showing how Trump’s trade team transformed tariffs into a catch-all diplomatic tool — extracting concessions for favored companies, demanding defense commitments, and tying market access to broader geopolitical goals.

India was a central case. In an eight-page list of “supplemental negotiating objectives,” U.S. negotiators pressed New Delhi to halt oil imports from Russia, arguing the revenue supported Moscow’s war in Ukraine, or face steep duties on Indian exports. They also urged India, Taiwan, and Indonesia to boost defense spending and buy more U.S.-made military equipment.

The approach extended well beyond South Asia. Israel and Australia were pressed to push Chinese operators out of key ports. African and South American governments faced pressure to curb Chinese telecom and military ties. In Cambodia, tariff threats were tied to granting U.S. naval access at a contested port.

Corporate priorities were also folded into the talks. Chevron was listed with requests for protection against restrictive foreign regulations, while Elon Musk’s Starlink was flagged for favorable licensing, including proposals to waive physical-presence rules in some markets.

“This is the first time I’ve seen that kind of demand in a trade negotiation,” former senior U.S. trade negotiator Wendy Cutler told the Post. “When you’re at the table, you’re not usually talking about this.”

The U.S. Trade Representative has not commented on the leaked draft. While it remains unclear how many of these proposals were adopted, the documents show tariffs under Trump functioned not just as an economic weapon but as leverage for military access, foreign policy goals, and corporate advantage.