Trump responds to India citing US-Russia trade amid tariff row

• Trump announces 25% tariff on India, threatens further penalties over Indian purchases of Russian oil.
• India rejects U.S. hypocrisy, emphasizes trade security, and defends indispensable Russian energy imports

U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday responded to India’s remarks highlighting ongoing American trade with Russia, despite Washington criticizing New Delhi for its own engagements with Moscow. When asked about the apparent double standard, Trump replied, “I don’t know anything about it, I’d have to check, but we’ll get back to you on that.”

Trump had recently announced a 25% tariff on Indian imports and hinted at further penalties, citing India’s continued purchases of Russian oil and military equipment. He accused India of being one of Russia’s largest energy buyers, alongside China.

In response, India pushed back against the tariff threat, calling it “unjustified and unreasonable.” Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal highlighted that the U.S. itself imports uranium hexafluoride for its nuclear industry, palladium for EVs, and various fertilizers and chemicals from Russia. He emphasized that India would continue to prioritize its national interests and economic security.

Despite Trump’s continued criticism, Indian-American Republican leader Nikki Haley publicly defended India. Writing on X, Haley described India as a “strong ally” and criticized the Biden administration’s leniency toward China. “Don’t give China a pass and burn a relationship with a strong ally like India,” she urged.

Trump later clarified he had never mentioned exact tariff percentages. "We'll see what happens over the next fairly short period of time," he said, alluding to the previously mentioned 100% tariff threat on countries trading with Russia.

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Notably, the Indian government has not issued any directives to curb imports from Russia, reaffirming its neutral stance. Jaiswal reiterated that India’s energy and defense procurements are based on national security and global market conditions, not external pressure.

According to Reuters, India imported $50.2 billion worth of Russian oil in FY 2024–25, continuing to capitalize on discounted prices following Western sanctions on Russia since the onset of the Ukraine war in 2022.