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'Targeting by US unjustified': India issues strong response to Trump tariff threat
The Indian government has issued a strong-worded statement on Monday in response to US President Donald Trump's fresh tariff warning.
The Indian government issued a strong-worded statement on Monday in response to US President Donald Trump's fresh tariff warning. In a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs, the government has stated it has been targeted by the United States and EU over its purchase of Russian oil.
Related | Russia slams Trump's threat against India: 'Can't force countries to choose trade partners'
Earlier on Monday, Donald Trump took to Truth Social and warned of more tariffs on India for its purchase of Russian oil and military products amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Also Read | Why will Donald Trump 'substantially increase' tariffs on India? Here's what he said
What did the MEA say?
Taking to X, the Ministry of External Affairs issued the following statement -
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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. Europe-Russia trade includes not just energy, but also fertilizers, mining products, chemicals, iron and steel and machinery and transport equipment.
5. Where the United States is concerned, it continues to import from Russia uranium hexafluoride for its nuclear industry, palladium for its EV industry, fertilizers as well as chemicals.
6. In this background, the targeting of India is unjustified and unreasonable. Like any major economy, India will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security.
US President Donald Trump imposed a 25 per cent tariff on India from August 1, 2025 onwards. The tariff, as per Trump, comes in response to India's rates for the US which are the “highest in the world”.
The Republican leader also stated that the tariff comes as a penalty for India's purchase of Russian oil and its participation in the BRICS bloc, which Trump deems as “anti-American.”
