Categories: World News

Trump warns India will keep facing “massive” U.S. tariffs over Russian oil dealings

U.S. President Donald Trump has reiterated a stern warning to India that it will continue to face “massive tariffs” unless it halts its purchases of Russian crude. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump claimed he had spoken to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and received a commitment that India would stop doing “the Russian-oil thing”. When challenged, Trump cautioned that India would “just continue to pay massive tariffs” if it denied such an agreement.

According to Trump, half of the 50 per cent U.S. duties imposed on Indian goods stem from India’s ongoing imports of Russian oil, which Washington argues helps fund Moscow’s war in Ukraine. He warned that unless India ceases that trade, the tariffs — already among the highest applied to a major economy — will remain or even escalate.

The Indian government, however, has rejected Trump’s account of the conversation. A spokesperson for India’s Ministry of External Affairs stated that it was unaware of any telephone call between Modi and Trump on the subject. The spokesperson reiterated that India’s import policies are guided by safeguarding consumer interests amid volatile global energy markets, and that New Delhi is committed to broadening and diversifying its energy sources.

India has defended its continuing crude oil purchases from Russia as necessary for energy security, obtaining discounted barrels amid a tight global supply environment. Washington has maintained that such purchases undermine global efforts to isolate Russia economically.

The tariffs issue comes amid deepening U.S.–India trade tensions. Earlier in the year, the Trump administration raised U.S. import duties on Indian goods to 50 per cent, citing India’s energy trade with Russia as a key trigger. Indian exporters across sectors have expressed concern over the elevated tariffs and their implications for bilateral trade ties.

Despite the dispute, India has also been engaged in talks with the U.S. to increase imports of American oil and gas, reflecting its desire to diversify energy sources. Still, the disagreement over Russian oil trade and U.S. trade penalties marks a significant strain in the bilateral relationship, highlighting diverging perceptions on energy policy, trade reciprocity and geopolitical alignment.

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