US and Europe Continue Trade with Russia Despite Years of War

While trade between the US and Russia has plummeted by roughly 90% since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, both the United States and the European Union continue to conduct billions of dollars in business with Russia. According to the latest data, the US imported $3 billion worth of goods from Russia last year, and the EU, a partner in sanctions against Russia, imported $41.9 billion (36 billion euros) in 2024.

Several key commodities continue to be imported into the US from Russia:

Fertilizer: The US imported over $1 billion in Russian fertilizers last year, relying particularly on imports of urea, urea ammonium nitrate, and potassium chloride. According to Allan Pickett, head of fertilizer analysis at S&P Global Commodity Insights, this level of trade is likely to continue unless sanctions are placed on these imports.

Palladium: Despite a significant decrease since 2021, the US still imported $878 million worth of palladium from Russia in 2024. This metal is an essential component in various electronic and industrial products, including catalytic converters for cars.

Uranium and Plutonium: The US has imported $755 million worth of uranium and plutonium from Russia this year, according to Census data.