Jaishankar Addresses Tariff Concerns Amid Rising US-India Tensions Over Russian Oil

In response to the United States' decision to enforce a 25 percent additional tariff on Indian goods due to the purchase of Russian oil, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar highlighted on Friday that China and the EU surpass India as the largest buyers of Russian oil and LNG. He questioned the logic of imposing secondary tariffs specifically on India.

During a joint press conference with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow, Jaishankar emphasized that India also sources oil from the US, with this trade increasing in volume. He expressed bewilderment over the rationale behind the tariff hike, initially introduced by President Trump, which totaled 50 percent following India's continued Russian oil imports.

Jaishankar underscored the importance of sustaining energy cooperation with Russia and stressed resolving the trade imbalance by enhancing Indian exports in sectors like agriculture, pharma, and textiles. He also discussed regional developments, defense cooperation, and the issue of Indians enlisted in the Russian Army during his visit to Russia, where he co-chaired trade and cultural cooperation initiatives.

(With inputs from agencies.)