The Indian government has vocally opposed the recent decision by the United States to impose a 25% tariff on Indian imports, aimed at penalizing New Delhi for its continued purchasing of Russian oil. This move has been characterized by Indian officials as “unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable.”
The swift rebuttal from India’s government followed the signing of an executive order by U.S. President Donald Trump, which specifically targets Indian goods and stems from India’s reluctance to decrease its crude oil imports from Russia. Indian officials asserted that their energy procurement decisions are driven chiefly by market dynamics and the need to ensure energy security for the country’s vast population of 1.4 billion people.
In a public statement, the government reiterated its stance, emphasizing that its energy imports are based on market conditions and reflective of the country’s broader objective of safeguarding energy access for its citizens. “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,” the statement pointed out.
Officials highlighted that India makes its energy choices aligned with national priorities, an approach mirrored by numerous other nations that are navigating the complexities of volatile energy prices in the global market. They underscored that the decision to single out India for additional tariff measures, while other countries engage in similar practices, exemplifies a discriminatory policy.
Moreover, the Indian government reinforced that its energy trade with Russia is part of a comprehensive strategy aimed at diversifying its supply sources and enhancing resilience against global oil market disturbances. The statement further assured that India would take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests.
This tariff dispute adds to the mounting list of trade frictions between New Delhi and Washington. Despite ongoing cooperation in various sectors, such as defense and technology, analysts have expressed concern that escalations on this front could detrimentally affect bilateral trade volumes, which have already been strained due to previous tariff hikes and ongoing disputes at the World Trade Organization.
