Trump Escalates Trade Tensions with India, Citing Tariffs and Russian Oil Imports

President Trump criticized India’s trade practices, claiming that India offered zero tariffs in response to the US raising duties on Indian goods. He said that, without US tariffs, this offer would not have occurred. He reiterated that tariffs were crucial for equitable trade, mentioning China, India, and Brazil in this regard. He noted that further sanctions, beyond the initial actions, are possible. He further said the secondary sanctions on India represented a direct action against Russia and could have significant financial implications. Trump also highlighted India’s role as a major purchaser of Russian oil, implying potential penalties. He also reminded India that there would be “big problems” if the country bought oil from Russia. Trump described the bilateral trade relationship as “one-sided,” noting that India benefits significantly from US trade while American companies struggle to access the Indian market.