The Ministry of External Affairs issued a strong response on Monday after US President Donald Trump threatened to raise tariffs against India. The POTUS had vowed a “significant” hike — days after imposing 25% duties against Indian imports over continued purchase of Russian oil. The MEA however cited ongoing trade ties between the US and Russia to deem the statement “unjustified and unreasonable”.
‘US actively encouraged such imports’
“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 MEA reminded.
A now-viral video of former US envoy Eric Garcetti lauding New Delhi for buying Russian oil in 2024 also appears to underscore this statement. The US Department of the Treasury had also issued a clarification in early 2024, reiterating that America had not asked India to stop importing crude oil from Russia.
‘US, European Union continue to trade with Russia’
The Foreign Ministry statement also highlighted ongoing trade between Russia and the US, European Union — noting that Washington continued to import “uranium hexafluoride for its nuclear industry, palladium for its EV industry, fertilizers as well as chemicals” from Moscow. Meanwhile, Europe-Russia trade included energy as well as fertilizers, mining products, chemicals, iron and steel, and machinery and transport equipment.
“The European Union in 2024 had a bilateral trade of Euro 67.5 billion in goods with Russia. In addition, it had trade in services estimated at Euro 17.2 billion in 2023. This is significantly more than India’s total trade with Russia that year or subsequently. European imports of LNG in 2024, in fact, reached a record 16.5mn tonnes, surpassing the last record of 15.21mn tonnes in 2022,” the MEA statement added.
‘India will safeguard national interests’
“India’s imports are meant to ensure predictable and affordable energy costs to the Indian consumer. They are a necessity compelled by global market situation. However, it is revealing that the very nations criticizing India are themselves indulging in trade with Russia. Unlike our case, such trade is not even a vital national compulsion,” the MEA said.
It called the repeated targeting of New Delhi as “unjustified and unreasonable” and added that the country would take “all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security.”
(With inputs from agencies)