India Hits Back at US Tariff Threat, Points to West’s ‘Duplicity’

India on Monday issued a sharp rebuttal to US President Donald Trump’s threat to raise tariffs over its purchase of Russian oil, labeling the criticism from Washington and the European Union as “unjustified and unreasonable” and pointing to their own continued and substantial trade with Moscow. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) defended its energy imports as a “necessity” and accused Western nations of duplicity.

The strong statement from New Delhi came hours after President Trump threatened to “substantially” hike tariffs on Indian goods, accusing India of profiting from the Ukraine war by buying and selling Russian oil. In a detailed response, the MEA clarified that India’s turn to discounted Russian crude was a direct consequence of the Ukraine conflict, which saw traditional suppliers divert their exports to Europe. The ministry pointedly noted that the US had, at the time, encouraged these purchases to help stabilize volatile global energy markets.

“India’s imports are meant to ensure predictable and affordable energy costs to the Indian consumer. They are a necessity compelled by global market situation,” the MEA stated. “However, it is revealing that the very nations criticising India are themselves indulging in trade with Russia. Unlike our case, such trade is not even a vital national compulsion.”

To underscore this point, the ministry highlighted that the European Union’s bilateral trade in goods with Russia in 2024 amounted to €67.5 billion, which is “significantly more than India’s total trade with Russia.” Furthermore, it stated that the US continues to import critical commodities from Russia, including uranium hexafluoride for its nuclear industry, palladium for its EV sector, and various fertilizers and chemicals.

President Trump, in a post on Truth Social, had accused India of not caring “how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine” and vowed to raise tariffs as a consequence. This followed an earlier imposition of a 25% tariff on Indian goods, citing similar reasons.

India’s response signals a firm defiance of the mounting pressure. The MEA asserted that the country will continue to act in accordance with its national interest and economic security, effectively stating that attempts to single out India ignore the broader context of global trade realities. The government has repeatedly maintained that its foreign policy and energy partnerships are independent and based on pragmatic considerations.