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2 hours ago
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ARTICLE AD BOX
Jaishankar argued that the tariff issue was being wrongly presented as a “oil dispute.” (X/Jaishankar)
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar hit out at the United States administration for imposing extra tariffs on India over the country’s choice to indulge in trade with Russia. EAM Jaishankar called US tariffs on India “unjustified and unreasonable,” questioning why similar arguments were not given for China, being the “biggest importer” of Russian oil.
Speaking at The Economic Times World Leaders Forum 2025, Jaishankar argued that the tariff issue was being wrongly presented as a “oil dispute.”
“If the argument is oil, then there are (other) big buyers. If argument is who is trading more (with Russia), than there are bigger traders,” he said. Russia-European trade is bigger than India-Russia trade, he added.
“This is being presented as an oil issue. But why I say ‘being presented’ is because the same arguments that have been used to target India have not been applied to the largest oil importer, which is China, and the largest LNG importer, which is the European nations,” Jaishankar said.
Further, the EAM clarified that trade negotiations with Washington are continuing but there are lines that New Delhi needs to defend.
“We have some redlines in the negotiations, to be maintained and defended,” he said at the ET event.
Indian goods face additional US tariffs of up to 50%, among the highest imposed by Washington, due to its increased purchases of Russian oil. A 25% tariff has already come into effect, while the remaining 25% is set to be enforced from August 27.
English (US) ·