“Does Russia suspect Trump might actually follow through on 500% tariff sanctions on anyone who trades with Russia?”
Trump is unpredictable, purposely so.
Trump probably will try. Trump likes tossing shoes into the works. That means no fashions from Paris or woke dolls from China for Russian women and girls come 2026.
“Would that have no leverage?”
It would be unpleasant, mainly for rich Russians. However, Russia has almost certainly imported the machine tools and semiconductor making equipment from China that it needs.
China has the broadest consumer goods production capability in the world. Russian industrial equipment buyers have probably bought a lot.
Thank you for taking the time. I had not considered much of that.