'Don't give China a pass': Nikki Haley backs India amid Trump tariff threat

Haley's statement for India comes after Donald Trump said he would issue a fresh tariff rate for India in the next 24 hours due to its purchase of Russian oil.

Updated on: Aug 6, 2025, 08:35:13 IST

By HT News Desk

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley has urged US President Donald Trump to not "burn a relationship" with a strong ally like India. Backing New Delhi, the Republican leader, who served as Trump's UN envoy during his first administration, alleged that the US president has given China "a pass" despite its close ties with Russia.

Nikki Haley, former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, has called on Trump to reconsider his warnings to India (AP)

"India should not be buying oil from Russia. But China, an adversary and the number one buyer of Russian and Iranian oil, got a 90-day tariff pause. Don’t give China a pass and burn a relationship with a strong ally like India," she wrote on X.

Haley's statement for India comes after Donald Trump said he would issue a fresh tariff rate for India in the next 24 hours due to its purchase of Russian oil.

Hours after Nikki Haley's remark, Trump was asked about India citing US's trade with Russia despite his criticism of New Delhi doing business with Moscow. Trump replied, “I don't know anything about it, I'd have to check, but we'll get back to you on that.”

Trump was asked the question days after New Delhi released a point-by-point rebuttal to Trump's tariff threat over doing business with Russia. New Delhi pointed out that the US “continues to import from Russia uranium hexafluoride for its nuclear industry, palladium for its EV industry, fertilisers as well as chemicals”.

Also Read: Number Theory: Donald Trump’s hypocrisy on Russia‑India oil trade, detailed in 3 charts

On Monday, the US president took to Truth Social and stated that he will "substantially increase" the tariffs against India due to its purchase of Russian oil amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Also Read | 'India fuelling war machine': Trump 'may substantially raise' tariff in 24 hours

"They don’t care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine. Because of this, I will be substantially raising the Tariff paid by India to the USA," said Trump.

Following this statement, India accused the US and European Union for its 'unjustified and unreasonable" targeting of New Delhi. In a strong response, the Indian government flagged the US and EU's history of trade ties with Russia.

Furthermore, Russia also came to India's defence on Tuesday and said any statements against Russian trading partners will be perceived as "threats".

"We hear many statements that are in fact threats, attempts to force countries to cut trade relations with Russia. We do not consider such statements to be legal," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

Stay updated with US News covering politics, crime, weather, local events, and sports highlights. Get the latest on Donald Trump and American politics along with Horoscope 2026.