Trump again threatens India with harsh tariffs over Russian oil

[John Drake]

I wish I could count on Trump to carry through with this threat and more. It would be nice to nip the Indian problem in the bud before it fully flowers into a second China-like problem. So, good to see a tariff threat, if Trump does actually do it. But the following should also take place:

 

1) end Indian H1Bs, let those in effect go without renewal or extension.

2) tax at the same rate as the tariff Indian call centers, diagnostic centers, consulting agencies, accounting services, etc. doing remote work for American firms and individuals.

3) apply civil rights compliance laws towards Indian managed companies in the US who fire American and hire Indian.

4) moratorium on all Indian immigration to the US.

 

Meanwhile, it's good to see Trump move against Putin in favor of Ukraine. Better late than never.

 

Quote

U.S. President Donald Trump again threatened on Monday to raise tariffs on goods from India over its Russian oil purchases, while New Delhi called his attack "unjustified" and vowed to protect its economic interests, deepening the trade rift between the two countries.

In a social media post, Trump wrote, "India is not only buying massive amounts of Russian Oil, they are then, for much of the Oil purchased, selling it on the Open Market for big profits. They don't care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine."  https://www.reuters.com/world/india/trump-again-threatens-india-with-harsh-tariffs-over-russian-oil-purchases-2025-08-04/

 

[Tug]

He will taco ….modi knows it as well as putin.

[John Drake]

12 minutes ago, Tug said:

He will taco ….modi knows it as well as putin.

 

That's what I fear. 

[FlorC]

Hopefully India won't crack.

Plenty of good Russian oil against some pathetic threats from Trump. 

[TedG]

5 minutes ago, FlorC said:

Hopefully India won't crack.

Plenty of good Russian oil against some pathetic threats from Trump. 

Sounds like you are pro Putin. 

[FlorC]

10 minutes ago, TedG said:

Sounds like you are pro Putin. 

Pro Russia , Putin has made too many mistakes and

cares little about his soldiers.

 

Thailand could import some Russian oil.

I'll gladly buy some cheaper Russian diesel.

[expat_4_life]

On 8/5/2025 at 11:41 AM, John Drake said:

U.S. President Donald Trump again threatened on Monday to raise tariffs on goods from India over its Russian oil purchases, while New Delhi called his attack "unjustified" and vowed to protect its economic interests, deepening the trade rift between the two countries.

In a social media post, Trump wrote, "India is not only buying massive amounts of Russian Oil, they are then, for much of the Oil purchased, selling it on the Open Market for big profits. They don't care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine."  https://www.reuters.com/world/india/trump-again-threatens-india-with-harsh-tariffs-over-russian-oil-purchases-2025-08-04/

 

That article skips over the fact that the US encouraged India to buy Russian oil.
I expect India to continue to import Russian oil. Tough choices as India is now dependent on the imports.

 

Source: https://idrw.org/how-us-encouraged-india-to-buy-russian-oil-to-stabilise-global-energy-markets/
 

America has actively encouraged such imports by India in the past for strengthening global energy market stability.

 

In November 2022, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen remarked: “The United States is happy for India to continue buying as much Russian oil as it wants, including at prices above a G7-imposed price cap mechanism, if it steers clear of Western insurance, finance and maritime services bound by the cap.”

 

In March 2024, Amos Hochstein, former US President Joe Biden’s energy and global infrastructure adviser, said, “At the end of the day, my goal is not to take it off the market, I’m not looking to take these tankers, take the crude, the product, off the market”.

In February 2024, US Assistant Secretary of State Geoffrey Pyatt acknowledged India’s role in stabilising global energy markets, saying, “India has played a key role in efforts to stabilise global energy markets through its purchases of Russian crude.”

 

In May 2024, US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti admitted that India bought Russian oil because the US wanted somebody to buy Russian oil. “The US allowed the purchase to take place to ensure the prices did not go up globally,” he added. Garcetti also highlighted that due to this arrangement, global oil prices didn’t shoot up and “India delivered on that.”