Last Updated:
Donald Trump said a 50% tariff on India for Russian oil strained ties but is hopeful about trade talks and stressed his conflict resolution efforts.
US President Donald Trump acknowledged that his decision to impose steep tariffs on India for its purchase of Russian oil strained ties with New Delhi, even as he struck an optimistic note about ongoing trade negotiations.
“Look, India was their biggest customer. I put a 50 per cent tariff on India because they’re buying oil from Russia. That’s not an easy thing to do. That’s a big deal and it causes a rift with India," Donald Trump said in an interview with Fox and Friends.
“But I’ve already done it. I’ve done a lot," he continued, defending his actions as part of a broader effort to pressure Russian President Vladimir Putin. He added, “And remember this is a Europe problem much more than our problem."
Donald Trump also repeated his claim that he has successfully resolved multiple global conflicts during his presidency.
“I solved seven wars. I did so many, including Pakistan and India, but big ones, some were unsolvable, Congo and Rwanda. I solved it. It was going on for 31 years, millions of people killed," he said.
‘The remarks come after Donald Trump sought to ease concerns about the bilateral chill, saying he was “certain" that there would be “no difficulty" in reaching a “successful conclusion" to US-India trade talks. He also said he looked forward to speaking with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whom he described as a “very good friend" in the coming weeks.
Responding on X (formerly Twitter), PM Modi expressed confidence that the ongoing negotiations would unlock the “limitless potential" of the partnership. He added that India and the US remain “close friends and natural partners" working to conclude the talks “at the earliest."
Donald Trump’s nominee for US Ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, echoed that optimism at his Senate confirmation hearing, telling lawmakers he expected the tariff dispute to be resolved “in the next few weeks," noting that Washington and New Delhi were not “that far apart right now" on a deal.
The Donald Trump administration has imposed 25 per cent reciprocal duties on Indian goods along with an additional 25 per cent levy tied to New Delhi’s imports of discounted Russian crude- bringing the total tariff burden to 50 per cent, among the steepest in the world.
Donald Trump has repeatedly accused India of “fueling Russia’s deadly attacks on Ukraine" by buying Russian oil, even while his administration has stopped short of imposing tougher sanctions directly on Moscow.
view comments
First Published:
September 12, 2025, 22:09 IST
Disclaimer: Comments reflect users’ views, not News18’s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to ourTerms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Loading comments...
