Fact check: Why are there no new tariffs on Russia or North korea?

1. Summary of the results

The absence of new tariffs on Russia and North Korea is primarily due to existing comprehensive sanctions already in place. White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt confirmed that these countries, along with Belarus and Cuba, are not subject to new tariffs because they are already under severe economic restrictions ^[1]. Specifically, existing sanctions have reduced US-Russia annual trade to just $3.5 billion, making additional tariffs redundant ^[2].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several crucial contextual elements are missing from the original question:

• The current geopolitical deadlock at the UN, where Russia and China have been vetoing or abstaining from key resolutions against North Korea ^[3]
• The fact that North Korea is actively supplying weapons to Russia while expanding its nuclear capabilities ^[3]
• The complete collapse of UN sanctions against North Korea ^[3]
• The White House's indication that Russia may face "additional tough sanctions" in the future, suggesting a strategic approach rather than immediate action ^[1]
• The fact that existing sanctions have already effectively cut off trade between the US and Russia, making new tariffs unnecessary ^[4]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The question implies a lack of action against these countries, which misrepresents the actual situation:

• It overlooks the existing comprehensive sanctions framework already in place ^[5]
• It doesn't acknowledge that trade with Russia has been reduced to minimal levels through previous sanctions ^[2]
• The question assumes tariffs would be an effective tool, when in reality, they would have little practical impact given the current trade restrictions ^[4]

Those benefiting from this narrative might include:

• Political opposition seeking to portray the administration as soft on adversaries
• Defense contractors and others who might profit from escalated tensions
• Media outlets seeking to create controversy around foreign policy decisions