Former UN Ambassador Slams Trump’s India Tariff Threats
Haley warns against alienating a key ally while giving "adversary" China a pass on Russian oil.
GG News Bureau
United Nations, 6th Aug: Amid renewed tariff threats against India over its Russian oil imports, US President Donald Trump claimed he was unaware of Washington’s trade in uranium and fertilizers with Moscow, a point that New Delhi has highlighted while defending its position. Speaking at a White House press conference, Trump also indicated he would increase duties on nations that continue to trade with Russia but did not specify any figures.
“I don’t know anything about it. I have to check it out,” Trump said in response to India’s claim that it was being unfairly singled out for its trade with Moscow.
India Defends Position, Haley Criticizes Trump’s Approach
The Indian government has strongly defended its trade with Russia, pointing out that its purchases of Russian oil are essential for national interests and citing the double standards of Western nations. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has highlighted that the US and EU continue to engage in significant trade with Russia, including goods like uranium, fertilizers, and palladium. Since January 2022, the US has imported over $24.51 billion in goods from Russia.
This stance was echoed by former US Ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, who criticized Trump for his approach. In a post on X, Haley cautioned against “burning a relationship with a strong ally like India” while giving “adversary” China a 90-day tariff pause. She noted that China is the number one buyer of both Russian and Iranian oil.
Tariffs and the Russia-Ukraine Conflict
Trump had previously threatened a “substantial” increase in tariffs on Indian imports, blaming New Delhi for “fueling the war machine” in Ukraine by purchasing Russian oil and reselling it for profit. During the press conference, he indicated that a meeting with Russia was scheduled to take place, stating, “we’ll see what happens.”
The US and its allies have been trying to isolate Russia economically since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, but have faced criticism for their own continued trade relationships with Moscow in certain sectors. India has consistently maintained that its energy policy is guided by its national interests and the need to provide affordable and predictable energy costs for its consumers.
