New Delhi: Amid the United States-India tariff tussle, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has now warned that the US could impose higher secondary tariffs on India, depending on the outcome of Trump’s meeting Friday with Vladimir Putin in Alaska.
“We have put secondary tariffs on Indians for buying Russian oil. And I could see, if things do not go well, then sanctions or secondary tariffs could go up,” Scott Bessent told Bloomberg TV Wednesday.
Earlier this month, the Trump administration imposed a 25 percent penalty on Indian imports, in addition to an existing 25 percent tariff, citing India’s continued purchases of Russian oil and weapons. The US has been seeking to mediate a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine.
On Wednesday, Trump warned of “severe consequences” if Moscow rejected a peace deal.
“President Trump is meeting with President Putin, and the Europeans are in the wings carping about how he should do it, what he should do,” Scott Bessent said, urging Europe to join the US in imposing “secondary sanctions” on countries trading with Russia.
India’s discounted Russian crude purchases have surged—from three percent of its imports in 2021 to 35–40 percent in 2024—since the Ukraine war began. The increase has strained bilateral ties and complicated ongoing trade negotiations.
Scott Bessent Tuesday described India as “a bit recalcitrant” on trade during an interview with Fox Business, citing its reluctance to lower tariffs on agricultural and dairy products as a key sticking point in months-long bilateral talks.
The new 50 percent tariff rate, the highest in any Asian country, is to take effect 27 August. Two days before that, US negotiators are expected in Delhi to resume tariff discussions, though a breakthrough seems unlikely.
Trump, who has long accused India of unfair trade practices, has said that his tariff hikes are part of efforts to strengthen the US economy and address a $45 billion trade deficit with India.
(Edited by Madhurita Goswami)
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