New Delhi: India on Monday issued a firm six-point statement in response to US President Donald Trump’s threat to raise tariffs. In its statement, India asserted that it has been unfairly targeted by both the United States and the European Union for continuing to import oil from Russia.
"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," India said in its statement.
In its second point, India said the imports are meant to ensure affordable costs to its citizens, "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."
In the third point India said, "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."
The statement further read,"Europe-Russia trade includes not just energy, but also fertilizers, mining products, chemicals, iron and steel and machinery and transport equipment."
"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," New Delhi said.
India termed the targeting as unjustified and unreasonable and also reaffirmed that it will take all measures to safeguard national interest."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."
Trump's Tarrif Threat
US President Donald Trump on Monday announced he will substantially raise tariffs on India for buying and selling Russian oil in open market.
"India is not only buying massive amounts of Russian Oil, they are then, for much of the Oil purchased, selling it on the Open Market for big profits. 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. Thank you for your attention to this matter!!! President DJT," Trump said on Truth Social.
