New Delhi: The Defence Ministry has dismissed reports of India pausing defence purchases from the US amid the ongoing tariff row.
"The news reports on India pausing the talks related to defence purchases with the US are false and fabricated. It is clarified that the various cases of procurement are being progressed as per the extant procedures." Defence Ministry officials were qouted as saying by news agency ANI.
Earlier in day, there was a report by news agency Reuters stating that New Delhi has paused its plans to procure new U.S. weapons and aircraft.
The report also claimed India had been planning to send Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to Washington in the coming weeks for an announcement on some of the purchases, but the trip has been cancelled. However, Indian authorities have reportedly dismissed that too, stating that dates have not been finalised for the visit.
Trump Imposes Additional 25% Tarrif
Earlier on Wednesday, US President Donald Trump signed a nine-section Executive Order imposing an additional 25% tariff on India in response to its continued purchase of Russian oil.
With this, the total tariff on Goods From India will be 50%. Trump had announced a 25 per cent tariff on India last week. The order states that India is directly or indirectly importing oil from Russia, which the US considers a threat to its national security and foreign policy.
India's Response
India described the US action of levying 25 per cent additional tariff on Indian goods as "unfair, unjustified and unreasonable". The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said India will take all actions necessary to protect its national interests.
The MEA said the US has in recent days "targeted" India's oil imports from Russia.
"We have already made clear our position on these issues, including the fact that our imports are based on market factors and done with the overall objective of ensuring the energy security of 1.4 billion people of India," it said.
"It is therefore extremely unfortunate that the US should choose to impose additional tariffs on India for actions that several other countries are also taking in their own national interest," it added.
