{"id":16589,"date":"2026-01-06T04:13:08","date_gmt":"2026-01-06T04:13:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/roydadnaft.ir\/English\/?p=16589"},"modified":"2026-01-06T04:13:08","modified_gmt":"2026-01-06T04:13:08","slug":"trump-warns-of-higher-tariffs-on-india-over-russian-oil-purchases","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/roydadnaft.ir\/English\/16589\/","title":{"rendered":"Trump warns of higher tariffs on India over Russian oil purchases"},"content":{"rendered":"

RoydadNaft – <\/a><\/span>\u00a0The United States could raise tariffs on India if New Delhi does not meet Washington\u2019s demand to curb purchases of Russian oil, U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday, escalating pressure on the South Asian country as trade talks remain inconclusive.<\/p>\n

\u201c(Prime Minister Narendra) Modi is a good guy. He knew I was not happy, and it was important to make me happy,\u201d Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey do trade, and we can raise tariffs on them very quickly,\u201d Trump said in response to a question on India\u2019s Russian oil purchases.<\/p>\n

India\u2019s commerce ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.<\/p>\n

Trump\u2019s comments follow months of trade negotiations after the U.S. doubled import tariffs on Indian goods to 50% last year as punishment for its heavy buying of Russian oil.<\/p>\n

Indian markets reacted on Monday, with the information technology stock index falling about 2.5 per cent to its lowest in more than a month, as investors worried that strained trade relations could further delay a U.S.-India trade deal.<\/p>\n

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a close Trump ally traveling with him, said U.S. sanctions on Russian oil companies and higher tariffs on India had helped curb Indian oil imports.<\/p>\n

Graham is backing legislation to impose tariffs of up to 500 per cent on countries such as India that continue to buy Russian oil.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you are buying cheap Russian oil, (you) keep Putin\u2019s war machine going,\u201d he said, adding that \u201cwe are trying to give the President ability to make that a hard choice by tariffs.\u201d<\/p>\n

Trump\u2019s actions were the main reasons India was now buying \u201csubstantially less Russian oil,\u201d Graham said.<\/p>\n

Trade experts warn, however, that New Delhi\u2019s cautious approach risks weakening its position.<\/p>\n

Ajay Srivastava, founder of trade think tank Global Trade Research Initiative, said Indian exports already face a 50 per cent U.S. tariff, with 25 per cent linked to purchases of Russian crude.<\/p>\n

While Indian refiners have cut imports after sanctions, he said, buying has not stopped entirely, leaving India in a \u201cstrategic grey zone.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAmbiguity no longer works,\u201d Srivastava said, urging India to clearly state its stance on Russian oil. He warned that even a complete halt may not end U.S. pressure, which could shift to other trade demands, and that higher tariffs risk deeper export losses.<\/p>\n

Separately, India struck a cautious diplomatic stance after the United States captured Venezuela\u2019s President Nicolas Maduro on Saturday, urging dialog without explicitly naming Washington.<\/p>\n

Despite steep tariffs, India\u2019s exports to the U.S. leapt in November, though shipments fell more than 20 per cent between May and November 2025. As New Delhi seeks to clinch a trade deal with Washington, the government has asked refiners for weekly disclosures of Russian and U.S. oil purchases to address U.S. concerns.<\/p>\n

Modi has spoken to Trump at least three times since the tariffs were imposed. India\u2019s commerce secretary met U.S. trade officials last month, but talks remain unresolved.<\/p>\n

Updated on