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Indian Express
2 hours ago
- Indian Express
‘Maybe I won't have to do it': Trump on India's additional 25% tariffs for buying Russian oil
Before his meeting with Russia's Vladimir Putin, US President Donald Trump on Friday suggested the US may not move ahead with secondary tariffs on countries continuing to buy Russian crude, a measure that had decreased India's trade competitiveness and raised concerns. 'Well, he (Russian President Vladimir Putin) lost an oil client, so to speak, which is India, which was doing about 40 per cent of the oil. China, as you know, is doing a lot…And if I did what's called a secondary sanction, or a secondary tariff, it would be very devastating from their standpoint. If I have to do it, I'll do it. Maybe I won't have to do it,' Trump said Friday in an interview with Fox News aboard Air Force One en route to Alaska for his summit with Putin. .@BretBaier: Would you sense that Putin comes to this table maybe in an economic pinch?@POTUS: 'If I did what's called a secondary sanction or a secondary tariff, it would be very devastating from their standpoint. If I have to do it, I'll do it. Maybe I won't have to do it.' — Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) August 15, 2025 The meeting ended without an agreement on ending the Russia-Ukraine war. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had earlier warned that if 'things don't go well' at the summit, Washington could escalate secondary tariffs on India for purchasing Russian oil. 'Sanctions can go up, they can be loosened. They can have a definitive life. They can go on indefinitely,' he told Bloomberg. Trump has already imposed tariffs totalling 50 per cent on India, including 25 per cent on Delhi's Russian oil imports, effective August 27. Trump, before meeting Putin, had suggested that his tariffs on India 'essentially took them out of buying oil from Russia,' and 'probably' played a role in bringing Moscow to the negotiating table. India has called the targeting 'unjustified and unreasonable,' with the Ministry of External Affairs saying it will 'take all necessary measures to safeguard national interests and economic security.' New Delhi on Saturday 'welcomed' the meeting between Trump and Putin in Alaska and 'appreciated the progress made'. 'India welcomes the Summit meeting in Alaska between US President Donald Trump and President Vladimir Putin of Russia. Their leadership in the pursuit of peace is highly commendable… India appreciates the progress made in the Summit. The way forward can only be through dialogue and diplomacy. The world wants to see an early end to the conflict in Ukraine,' MEA's official spokesperson said. (With Inputs from PTI)
Indian Express
2 hours ago
- Indian Express
US team scraps visit, trade talks with India stuck on agri hurdle
The India-US negotiations for a trade deal, which began in February after Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the United States, have come to a halt, and the US negotiators' scheduled visit to India later this month stands cancelled, a source aware of the development told The Indian Express. The breakdown in trade talks assumes significance as US President Donald Trump has announced 50 per cent tariff on Indian products, the highest on any country globally. While 25 per cent tariff has already come into effect, government officials have said the levy of another 25 per cent – for Russia oil trade — could depend on 'how geopolitical events unfold'. The Indian Express had first reported on August 8 that the negotiations for a trade agreement had hit a pause, and the arrival of the US trade team was uncertain, as no formal communication had been received from their side. The deal has been stuck over India's long-standing stance of protecting farmers in every trade agreement. The US, under Trump, is prioritising market access for its agricultural products. In his Independence Day speech on Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated that India would not compromise on the well-being of its farmers, fisherfolk and cattle keepers, amid the standoff with the US over access for American products in India's agriculture and dairy market. On August 7, too, after Trump announced the additional 25 per cent tariff on Indian goods, Modi had said that he would not compromise 'even if it entailed paying a very heavy personal price'. The geopolitical factor The uncertainty over when the tariffs on India could ease may drag on, as Trump's high-stakes talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin did not result in a Russia-Ukraine ceasefire. However, Trump said he and Putin had made progress during the meeting in Alaska. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has warned that the secondary tariffs on India could increase if 'things don't go well' during the Trump-Putin talks. 'I think everyone has been frustrated with President Putin. We expected that he would come to the table in a more fulsome way. It looks like he may be ready to negotiate. And we put secondary tariffs on the Indians for buying Russian oil. I could see, if things don't go well, then sanctions or secondary tariffs could go up,' Bessent said in an interview with Bloomberg earlier.
News18
2 hours ago
- News18
European leaders welcome President Trumps efforts to end war in Ukraine
Brussels [Belgium], August 16 (ANI/WAM): European leaders today welcomed US President Donald Trump's efforts to end the war in Ukraine, following his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska a joint statement by French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, President of Finland Alexander Stubb, Prime Minister of Poland Donald Tusk, Antonio Costa, President of the European Council, and President of the European Commission von der Leyen, it was stated that the next step should be additional talks involving Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, paving the way for a trilateral summit with European leaders emphasised that Ukraine must have ironclad security guarantees to effectively defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity. They welcomed President Trump's statement that the US is prepared to give security also reaffirmed that European support for Ukraine will continue, affirming their commitment to maintain sanctions and other economic measures against Russia as long as the fighting persists, with the goal of securing a just and lasting peace that upholds the vital security interests of both Ukraine and Europe. (ANI/WAM)
