India fires back at Trump's tariff threat, calls U.S. criticism hypocritical

Al Bawaba

2 days ago

ALBAWABA- India issued a strong rebuttal on Sunday in response to U.S. President Donald Trump's threat to impose higher tariffs over India's continued imports of Russian oil.
The statement, released by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, called the targeting of India "unjustified and unreasonable," highlighting what it described as the hypocrisy of both the U.S. and European Union, who continue to maintain robust trade ties with Russia.
India clarified that its oil imports from Russia were not only legal but also necessary, arising from global supply disruptions following the outbreak of the Ukraine conflict. 'India began importing from Russia because traditional suppliers diverted their cargoes to Europe,' the statement read, noting that the U.S. had initially encouraged such imports to stabilize global energy markets.
New Delhi emphasized that its energy deals are driven by the need to ensure predictable and affordable fuel prices for its population. 'Our imports are a national necessity, not a luxury. Meanwhile, countries criticizing us engage in Russian trade that isn't even vital to their economies.'
The statement also cited data exposing the scale of European trade with Russia: €67.5 billion in goods and €17.2 billion in services in 2024 alone. The EU also imported a record 16.5 million tonnes of LNG from Russia in 2024, surpassing previous years. Likewise, the U.S. continues to import key materials such as uranium hexafluoride, palladium, fertilizers, and chemicals from Russia.
India's response came shortly after Trump posted on Truth Social, accusing India of 'not caring how many people in Ukraine are being killed' and of 'buying massive amounts of Russian oil and selling it for big profits on the open market.' Trump vowed to "substantially raise tariffs paid by India to the USA."
India rejected the claim as inflammatory and misleading. 'India will continue to take all necessary steps to safeguard its national interest and economic security,' the official statement concluded.