Key points
- India’s purchases of Russian oil are helping to sustain Russia’s war efforts in Ukraine: Rubio
- Trump sets 25pc tariff rate on India
- India has the most obnoxious non-monetary trade barriers of any country: Trump
ISLAMABAD: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Thursday that India’s purchases of Russian oil are helping to sustain Russia’s war efforts in Ukraine and it is “most certainly a point of irritation” in New Delhi’s relationship with Washington.
Rubio was responding to a question on President Donald Trump’s announcement of the 25 per cent tariff on India and an additional penalty for buying Russian military equipment and energy.
“A point of irritation”
Indian media cited Rubio as saying, “So, it is most certainly a point of irritation in our relationship with India – not the only point of irritation”.
“But I think what you’re seeing the President express is the very clear frustration that with so many other oil vendors available, India continues to buy so much from Russia, which in essence is helping to fund the war effort and allowing this war to continue in Ukraine,” he said.
Reuters reported that Trump set 25 per cent tariff rate on India. Earlier, on Wednesday, Trump said that US will impose a 25 per cent tariff on goods from India, plus an additional import tax because of India purchasing Russian oil, according to AP.
Trump said that India had tariffs that were “among the highest in the World, and they have the most strenuous and obnoxious non-monetary trade barriers of any country.”
