By Shakir Husain
NEW DELHI, Aug 5 (Bernama) — India on Monday responded to the United States President Donald Trump‘s remarks on tariffs, following concerns raised over India’s continued purchase of Russian oil.
Trump, who on July 30 announced 25 per cent tariffs on India, said on Monday that he would be “substantially raising” them because Indian energy purchases are subsidising the Russian military campaign against Ukraine.
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs suggested that the United States was using double standards in asking India to shun Russian oil after first encouraging such imports, and given America’s own trade with Russia.
“India’s imports are meant to ensure predictable and affordable energy costs to the Indian consumer. They are a necessity compelled by the global market situation.
However, it is revealing that the very nations criticising India are themselves indulging in trade with Russia,” the ministry said in a statement.
The targeting of India is “unjustified and unreasonable”, and the country will take “all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security,” it said.
The Indian statement also referred to the recent European Union trade sanctions against Russia, as the measures targeted a crude oil refinery of Russian energy giant Rosneft in western India.
“India has been targeted by the United States and the European Union for importing oil from Russia after the commencement of the Ukraine conflict.
“In fact, India began importing from Russia because traditional supplies were diverted to Europe after the outbreak of the conflict,” it said.
“The United States at that time actively encouraged such imports by India for strengthening global energy markets’ stability,” the statement added.
Trump on Monday said on Truth Social that India is not only buying “massive amounts” of Russian oil, but it is selling much of that oil on the open market for big profits.
He also accused India of not caring “how many people in Ukraine are being killed” by the Russian military.
India pointed out that the European Union in 2024 had a bilateral trade of 67.5 billion euros (RM331 billion) in goods and of 17.2 billion euros in services with Russia.
It said European imports of Liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Russia in 2024 were 16.5 million tonnes, surpassing the last record of 15.21 million tonnes in 2022.
“Where the United States is concerned, it continues to import from Russia uranium hexafluoride for its nuclear industry, palladium for its electric vehicle (EV) industry, fertilisers as well as chemicals,” the Indian foreign ministry said.
— BERNAMA
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