OREANDA-NEWS  Russia was not included in the list of countries that are subject to retaliatory import duties, but it is possible that it may face new sanctions, said White House spokeswoman Caroline Levitt.

""Spokeswoman Caroline Levitt told Axios on Wednesday that Russia is not included in the list because U.S. sanctions are already preventing any meaningful trade," the portal writes.

She also said that Russia could still face "additional tough sanctions."

Levitt noted that Cuba, Belarus and North Korea were also not included in the list of countries subject to import duties, "because the existing tariffs and sanctions against them are already very high."

The decision to impose retaliatory duties on foreign trading partners of the United States was announced on Wednesday by President Donald Trump.