Donald Trump Threatens To Hike Tariffs On India Over Buying Russian Oil
US President Donald Trump on Monday announced he would “substantially” raise tariffs on Indian goods, accusing New Delhi of profiting from Russian oil sales while fuelling Moscow’s “war machine” in Ukraine. The threat, made in a post on his Truth Social platform, marks an escalation of pressure on India over its robust energy ties with Russia.
In his post, Trump claimed India is not only purchasing massive quantities of Russian oil but is also reselling it for significant profits on the open market. “They don’t care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine. Because of this, I will be substantially raising the Tariff paid by India to the USA,” he wrote, without specifying the quantum of the proposed increase.
This new warning comes just a week after the US President imposed a 25% tariff on all Indian goods, citing India’s high tariffs on American products and its continued military and energy relationship with Moscow. At that time, he also mentioned an unspecified penalty for India’s procurement of Russian crude oil and military equipment. The latest statement intensifies the administration’s criticism, which has seen other top aides accuse India of financing the war.
The Indian government has so far not announced any retaliatory measures. Following the initial 25% tariff announcement, the Commerce and Industry Ministry stated on July 30 that it was studying the implications and would take all necessary steps to secure India’s national interest. The ministry’s statement also noted that India and the US have been engaged in negotiations for a “fair, balanced and mutually beneficial” trade agreement.
The pressure from Washington has been inconsistent, with Trump stating last week that he “does not care” how much business India does with Russia. However, the latest threat to hike tariffs indicates a hardening stance, placing India in a challenging position as it navigates its strategic partnership with the US while maintaining its long-standing and economically vital ties with Russia
