Trump Threatens Sharp Tariff Hike on India over Russian Oil Trade, India and Kremlin Respond

BlockBeats News, August 5 — On August 4, U.S. President Trump threatened to significantly increase tariffs on India. According to reports from Reuters and Sky News on the 5th, India responded by stating it would take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security.

Sky News reported that a spokesperson for India’s Ministry of External Affairs commented that since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, India has been “targeted” by the U.S. and the EU for importing oil from Russia. “In fact, India began importing oil from Russia because, after the conflict broke out, traditional oil supplies shifted to Europe,” the spokesperson said. “At that time, the U.S. even actively encouraged such imports by India to help stabilize the global energy market.” In addition, according to the latest report from AFP on the 5th, the Kremlin also criticized Trump’s threat to raise tariffs on India, stating that “sovereign nations have the right to choose their own trading partners” and that “forcing countries to sever trade relations with Russia” is an improper act. (Global Times)