Japan has indicated it would be difficult to impose tariffs on countries continuing to import Russian oil, responding to U.S. proposals targeting India and China.

Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato told reporters Tuesday that while Tokyo is committed to measures that can pressure Russia to end the war in Ukraine, imposing higher tariffs solely for purchasing Russian oil would be challenging. “It is difficult to apply higher tariffs on certain nations just for buying Russian oil,” Kato said, according to Kyodo News Agency.

The remarks follow U.S. calls for Group of Seven (G7) members to join Washington in sanctioning countries importing Russian crude. The G7—which includes the United States, Japan, Germany, France, Italy, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the European Union—has already limited Russian oil exports through a price cap and reduced energy ties with Moscow after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Former President Donald Trump has also pushed for stronger measures against Russia, urging NATO allies to halt purchases of Russian oil before imposing major sanctions. Recently, Trump applied a 25% tariff on Indian goods due to its continued Russian oil imports.

Separately, Japan received a partial trade relief with a 15% tariff reduction on vehicles exported to the U.S., effective Tuesday. Japanese automakers exported around $41 billion worth of cars to the U.S. in 2024. The tariff cut follows a July trade deal in which Japan pledged $550 billion in investments in the United States and agreed to increase imports of American agricultural products.