US President Donald Trump on Wednesday issued an executive order, which kills India with an additional 25% tariff on the purchase of Russian oil.
This will increase the total tariffs on Indian imports in the United States by 50% in the United States – amid the highest rates imposed by the US.
The new rate will be effective “21 days after the date of this order”, the executive order states.
A reaction by India’s Foreign Ministry on Wednesday said that New Delhi had already made its stand on imports from Russia, and reiterated that the tariff is “inappropriate, inappropriate and unfair”.
The statement said, “It is so unfortunate that America should opt for additional tariffs on India for those tasks that many other countries are also taking in their national interest.”
The US President had earlier warned that he would extend the levies, saying that India’s officials “did not care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by a Russian war machine”.
On Wednesday, the White House said in a statement that “the Russian Federation’s action in Ukraine leads to the ongoing threat to the US national security and foreign policy, requiring strong measures to address the national emergency.
“India’s import of Russian Federation oil reduces American efforts to combat Russia’s harmful activities.”
The White House stated that India imports and later redevelopment of Russian oil on the market further “enables the Russian association’s economy to fund its aggression (in Ukraine)”.
It states that the US will determine which other countries import oil from Russia, and “will recommend further action to the President as required”.
On Wednesday, Tram’s top envoy Steve Witcoff in Moscow follows meetings of Tariff Hike, a threatened tariff hike.
New Delhi earlier called Trump’s danger “inappropriate and inappropriate” to increase the tariff on the purchase of oil from Russia.
In an earlier statement, Randhir Jaiswal, a spokesman for the Ministry of External Affairs of India, said that the US had encouraged India to import Russian gas at the beginning of the struggle, “to strengthen the stability of global energy markets”.
He said India “started importing from Russia as traditional supply was converted into Europe after the outbreak of conflict”.
The latest threat tariffs demonstrate Trump’s desire to implement war -related sanctions in Ukraine, even against nations that the US considers an important ally or business partner.
This may be a warning that other countries may feel a real bite if Trump extends such restrictions after Friday’s deadline, when the US President has threatened new sanctions on Russia and to keep 100% tariffs on its oil purchasing countries.
India has previously criticized the US – to start its biggest business partner – tariff, when the US itself is still trading with Russia.
The statement of the Ministry of External Affairs said, “Like any major economy, India will take all necessary measures to protect its national interests and economic security.”
Last year, the US traded an estimated $ 3.5BN (£ 2.6BN) value with Russia, despite hard restrictions and tariffs.
BBC North American correspondent Anthony Zucher’s files.