New Delhi: US President Donald Trump Wednesday imposed an additional 25 percent tariff on India as a penalty for New Delhi’s continued purchase of Russian oil. The duties are additional to the 25 percent tariff rate announced by Trump last week.
“Accordingly, and as consistent with applicable law, articles of India imported into the customs territory of the United States shall be subject to an additional ad valorem rate of duty of 25 percent. Subject to section 3 of this order, this rate of duty shall be effective with respect to goods entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time 21 days after the date of this order,” the executive order signed by Trump said.
Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) responded to the additional tariffs labelling the action “unfair, unjustified and unreasonable”.
“It is therefore extremely unfortunate that the US should choose to impose additional tariffs on India for actions that several other countries are also taking in their own national interest,” added Jaiswal. The ministry spokesperson promised that India will take all “actions necessary to protect its national interests.”
India has maintained that the purchase of Russian oil is a “vital national compulsion”. The G7 had first imposed a price cap on oil from Russia after Moscow opened the current phase of open conflict with Ukraine, in 2022. The cap was designed in a way to reduce Moscow’s profits from the production of crude, while allowing countries to continue to purchase Russian oil, thereby reducing chances for a large spike in prices.
Former American ambassador to India Eric Garcetti, confirmed that the US encouraged India to continue purchasing Russian oil.
Trump’s position on Russia has changed in the last few weeks. On his return to the White House earlier this year, Trump applied pressure on Ukraine to agree to a ceasefire with Russia. The American president promised to end the war within 24 hours while on the campaign trail.
Despite both Russian President Vladimir V. Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy agreed to a partial ceasefire in separate calls with Trump, earlier this year, no such deal came to fruition.
Trump’s latest action comes after a series of posts on his social media platform Truth Social taking aim at India for its tariffs, and also its membership in the BRICS
The American President has taken aim at India’s continued purchase of Russian oil in the past week, as Trump continues to remain frustrated over negotiations to ensure a ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine war. Trump has also been irritated with the continuing negotiations for a trade deal between New Delhi and Washington DC.
The mini-deal was expected to be signed before 1 August, but negotiations stalled over the US’ push for greater access to India’s agriculture sector. Trump has since publicly announced his irritation over India’s tariffs and has now taken aim at its purchase of Russian oil.
India called out the US’ double standards earlier this week in a stinging rebuke, pointing out the continued trade between Washington DC and Moscow which touched $17.5 billion. India is the second largest importer of Russian oil in the world after China.
This is an updated version of the report
(Edited by Gitanjali Das)
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When socialist India imposes 110% import duty on cars, it shouldn’t complain on tariffs imposed by the US. Socialism has brought nothing but misery to the masses and votes for third-rate politicians.