US President Donald Trump had sparked outrage last month after imposing a 50% tariff against India for its continued purchase of Russian oil. The POTUS doubled down on his decision during an interview on Friday — while admitting that the move had caused a rift with New Delhi. The remarks came even as the US Treasury called on Group of Seven and European Union allies to impose “meaningful tariffs” on goods from China and India to halt their purchases of Russian oil.
“India was their biggest customer. I put a 50% tariff on India because they’re buying oil from Russia. That’s not an easy thing to do. That’s a big deal, and it causes a rift with India…”But I’ve already done it. I’ve done a lot. And remember this is a European problem much more than our problem,” Trump said during an interview with Fox and Friends on Friday.
The POTUS also reiterated his oft-repeated claim of ending seven wars — including the India-Pakistan conflict.
“I solved seven wars. I did so many, including Pakistan and India, but big ones, some were unsolvable, Congo and Rwanda. I solved it. It was going on for 31 years, millions of people killed. I solve wars that was unsolvable,” he insisted.
US calls on G7, EU to impose tariffs
The US Treasury called on the G7 and EU to impose “meaningful tariffs” on goods from China and India to halt their purchases of Russian oil. It also convened an emergency G7 finance meeting to discuss efforts to step up pressure on Moscow to end the Ukraine war. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had reportedly told G7 partners to join the US in imposing such levies if they were committed to ending the Ukraine clash.
“Chinese and Indian purchases of Russian oil are funding Putin’s war machine and prolonging the senseless killing of the Ukrainian people. Earlier this week, we made it clear to our EU allies that if they are serious about ending the war in their own backyard, they need to join us and impose meaningful tariffs that will be rescinded the day the war ends,” a US Treasury spokesperson told Reuters.