In a sharp rebuke to President Donald Trump’s trade policies, Democrats on the United States House Foreign Affairs Committee have accused him of unfairly targeting India with an unprecedented 50% tariff on imports, including a 25% penalty specifically tied to Russian oil purchases.
They alleged that this move is not only damaging to U.S.-India relations but also strategically misguided, as other major importers of Russian oil, like China, face no comparable penalties.
Stating on Thursday, the Committee’s Democrats asserted that the decision “hurts Americans and sabotages U.S.-India relations,” questioning the rationale behind penalizing a key strategic ally while letting other nations off relatively lightly.
India Bears the Brunt, While China, Turkey Escape Steep Penalties
The tariff hike, first announced on August 6 and implemented on August 27, disproportionately impacts India. While China — the largest importer of Russian oil — and Turkey were also subjected to tariffs, they faced much lower rates of 30% and 15%, respectively.
This sharp disparity has fueled criticism that the policy is politically motivated rather than genuinely aimed at addressing the Russia-Ukraine war.
Citing a New York Times report that highlighted how the “secondary tariffs” were almost exclusively targeted at India, the Democrats suggested that the move undermines claims of the sanctions being about Ukraine, remarking pointedly: “It’s almost like it’s not about Ukraine at all.”
India Calls U.S. Action ‘Unjustified’ and Vows to Protect National Interests
Responding swiftly to Washington’s announcement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) described the tariff measures as “extremely unfortunate” and “unjustified.”
In a strong statement, India emphasized that its energy procurement is guided by market realities and the need to safeguard energy security for 1.4 billion citizens.
“We reiterate that these actions are unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable. India will take all necessary steps to safeguard its national interests,” the MEA declared, signaling firm diplomatic resistance to the tariff pressure.
Jaishankar Voices Frustration; India Defends Oil Trade
During his recent visit to Moscow, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said India was “very perplexed” by the U.S. decision to impose a 50% tariff on its oil imports.
He reiterated that India’s trade policy is conducted on a commercial basis and criticized attempts to frame the tariff issue as an “oil-specific” dispute.
Indian envoy to Russia Vinay Kumar echoed this sentiment, underlining that India would continue to buy oil from markets that serve its economic and energy needs.
On Saturday, Jaishankar pushed back further against the U.S. narrative, stating:
It’s ironic to hear people from a pro-business American administration accusing others of doing business. If you have a problem with oil or refined products purchased from India, don’t buy them. Nobody is forcing you. But Europe buys, America buys… so if you don’t like it, don’t buy it.”
White House Stands Firm, Cites ‘Aggressive Economic Leverage’
Defending the administration’s stance, U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance claimed on Sunday that the tariff measures, including “secondary tariffs on India,” were intended to exert “aggressive economic leverage” to pressure Russia into halting its bombing campaign in Ukraine.
However, the Democrats’ critique and India’s strong reaction have brought the controversy into sharper focus, raising concerns that Washington’s actions risk straining relations with one of its closest strategic partners at a time of heightened global instability.
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