With threats of tariffs up to 50 percent, President Trump seems to be scrapping America’s plan to turn India into a counterweight to China, declaring instead that it is a “dead economy.”

A bill vowing levies of up to 500% on countries that buy Russian oil is making its way through Congress. Meanwhile, the European Union’s 18th package of sanctions will ban refined products made from Russian crude in January.

The rare public backing from China may signal deeper strategic maneuvering. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to visit China later this month for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Sum