NEW DELHI/COPENHAGEN: United States President Donald Trump has warned that Washington could swiftly raise tariffs on Indian goods if New Delhi fails to curb its purchases of Russian oil.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday, Trump said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was fully aware of Washington’s dissatisfaction over India’s continued imports of Russian crude.
“Modi knew I was not happy, and it was important to make me happy,” Trump said. “They do trade, and we can raise tariffs on them very quickly,” he added in response to a question on India’s Russian oil purchases, according to AFP.
India’s commerce ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The United States doubled import tariffs on Indian goods to 50 percent last year, citing India’s heavy buying of Russian oil. Despite the steep tariffs, India’s exports to the U.S. surged in November, according to trade data.
Encouraged by the improved figures, Indian officials have maintained a firm stance against U.S. trade demands, signaling limited flexibility in sensitive areas such as agricultural imports. At the same time, data indicates that India’s oil purchases from Russia have declined in recent months.
Sources familiar with the matter told Reuters last week that India has begun asking refiners to provide weekly disclosures of Russian and U.S. oil purchases. They added that Russian crude imports are expected to fall below one million barrels per day as New Delhi seeks to finalize a trade agreement with Washington.
Prime Minister Modi has spoken with President Trump at least three times by phone since the tariffs were imposed, though the discussions have yet to yield a breakthrough.
India’s Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal met U.S. Deputy Trade Representative Rick Switzer in New Delhi last month to discuss bilateral trade and broader economic ties.
