US Offers India 25% Tariff Relief in Exchange for Ending Russian Oil Purchases
India could see a reduction in US tariffs “tomorrow” if it halts its imports of Russian oil, White House senior counselor for trade and manufacturing Peter Navarro said Wednesday. Speaking to Bloomberg, Navarro accused New Delhi of financing Moscow’s war through oil purchases and called on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to stop providing Russia with vital revenue.
“When India buys discounted Russian oil and sells it globally, Russia uses that money to buy drones and bombs to kill Ukrainians,” Navarro said. He argued that cutting off oil purchases from both India and China would deprive Moscow of war funds. “If people just stop buying Russian oil, then it’s only a matter of time before Putin doesn’t have the money to fund that war. The road to peace partially passes through New Delhi,” he added.
The remarks come as US President Donald Trump’s latest trade penalties on India took effect Wednesday. Washington first imposed a 25% tariff on Indian goods earlier this month, followed by an additional 25% as punishment for discounted Russian crude imports. US-India trade in goods reached $129 billion in 2024, with the US recording a $45.8 billion deficit, according to official data.
