Trump Signals US May Reconsider Secondary Tariffs on India Over Russian Oil
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In a notable change of course, U.S. President Donald Trump recently indicated that secondary tariffs on India, imposed in response to its continued procurement of Russian oil, may not be enforced after all. His comments came during a Fox News interview as he departed for a high-stakes meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska. Trump noted that while he retained the option to impose such measures—calling them potentially “devastating”—he may ultimately choose not to use them.
This apparent softening follows a series of escalating U.S. trade sanctions. Earlier, Trump signed an executive order introducing an additional 25% tariff on Indian imports, citing New Delhi’s oil imports from Russia, bringing the total tariff burden to 50%. These higher tariffs were framed as a tool to force strategic recalibration amid Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Trump justified the initial sanctions by stating that India had become a key oil client for Russia—accounting for roughly 40% of its oil exports. However, he later softened the tone, emphasizing that if secondary tariffs were needed, he would impose them—but asserted that perhaps he won’t have to.
These remarks may reflect strategic ambiguity, potentially aimed at providing diplomatic room while retaining pressure. As India and the U.S. navigate this evolving trade conflict, the decision about secondary tariffs remains a potent lever—one that may yet be employed depending on how negotiations progress.
