‘Unreasonable': India Responds to US Tariff Threat over Russian Oil

Leaders

4 days ago

New Delhi has responded to the US tariff threat, criticizing what it called the 'unjustifiable and unreasonable' targeting of India.
The US President, Donald Trump, threatened India with 'substantially' steeper tariffs over its imports of Russian oil, few days after imposing a 25% levy on the country, reported BBC. Rejecting US Tariff Threat
In an official statement, the spokesperson of India's Foreign Ministry, Randhir Jaiswal, responded to Trump's tariff threats, accusing the US and the European Union (EU) of targeting India.
'India has been targeted by the United States and the European Union for importing oil from Russia after the commencement of the Ukraine conflict. In fact, India began importing from Russia because traditional supplies were diverted to Europe after the outbreak of the conflict. The United States at that time actively encouraged such imports by India for strengthening global energy markets stability,' the statement said.
It added that Russian oil imports are 'a necessity compelled by global market situation' to ensure predictable and affordable energy costs to Indian consumers. Harsh Criticism
India sharply criticized the US and EU for attacking New Delhi while doing trade themselves with Russia. 'It is revealing that the very nations criticizing India are themselves indulging in trade with Russia,' the statement said, noting that this trade 'is not a vital national compulsion' for them.
The statement went on to highlight the volume of trade between the EU and Russia, which in 2024 reached € 67.5 billion in goods, significantly surpassing India's total trade with Russia in the same year or subsequently.
In the meantime, the US has maintained its imports from Russia, including uranium hexafluoride for its nuclear industry, palladium for its EV industry, fertilizers and chemicals, the statement added. Defending India's Interests
The Indian Foreign Ministry's statement emphasized that Delhi will take the necessary measure to defend its national interests. 'The targeting of India is unjustified and unreasonable,' it said.
'Like any major economy, India will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security,' the statement stressed. Trump Tariffs
On Monday, Trump threatened New Delhi with much higher tariffs over its purchase of Russian oil, thus supporting Moscow's war effort in Ukraine. 'India is not only buying massive amounts of Russian Oil, they are then, for much of the Oil purchased, selling it on the Open Market for big profits,' he posted on Truth Social.
'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,' Trump stated, without specifying the level of tariffs.
Trump's new threat came days after he imposed a 25% tariff on imports from India, taking effect on August 1, 2025, in addition to unspecified 'penalty.' India-Russia Energy Ties
India is one of the largest buyers of Russian oil and has emerged as one of the most significant markets for Russian exports after many European countries severed trade ties with Moscow following its war on Ukraine in 2022.
According to a report released by the US Energy Information Administration earlier this year, New Delhi increased its imports of Russian oil from just under 100,000 barrels per day before the war to over 1.8 million barrels per day in 2023, accounting for 39% of overall imports.
Furthermore, India imported 70% of Russian crude in 2024, according to the International Energy Agency.
India has repeatedly defended its oil purchases from Russia. In an interview with CNBC last month, Delhi's Energy Minister, Hardeep Singh Puri, reiterated the idea that his country's oil imports from Russia helped in stabilizing global energy prices and was encouraged by the US.
'If people or countries had stopped buying at that stage, the price of oil would have gone up to 130 dollars a barrel. That was a situation in which we were advised, including by our friends in the United States, to please buy Russian oil, but within the price cap,' he said.
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