New Delhi: US-India relations, traditionally strong, are under fresh strain amid a dispute over tariffs and India’s purchase of Russian oil, with former President Donald Trump criticizing India’s trade policies and perceived lack of acknowledgment for his role in the recent India-Pakistan peace process.
Speaking at the White House on Tuesday, Trump said the US “gets along with India very well” but stressed that for many years the relationship was “one-sided.” He cited India’s high tariffs on American goods, calling them some of the “highest in the world,” which limited US exports. Meanwhile, American products entered India with comparatively lower duties. Trump highlighted Harley Davidson motorcycles as an example, saying the company faced a 200% tariff in India, prompting it to set up local production to bypass the duties. He suggested that tariff adjustments could help balance trade while maintaining strong bilateral ties.
Tensions escalated in recent weeks after the Trump administration imposed secondary tariffs on India for continuing to buy Russian crude, with duties on certain Indian exports now exceeding 50%, the highest level in Trump’s tariff list outside Brazil. US Strategic Affairs expert Ashley J. Tellis told NDTV that Trump felt “cheated” for not receiving credit for resolving the India-Pakistan crisis in May 2025, a grievance that may have compounded policy disputes over Russian oil.
Tellis noted that Trump’s trade advisor, Peter Navarro, further strained the relationship, accusing India of running a “profiteering scheme” by importing Russian oil. Navarro described India’s purchases as a “laundromat for the Kremlin” and criticized New Delhi for not heeding US warnings, despite Washington previously asking India to help stabilize global energy markets.
India has defended its stance, with Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar stating during a Moscow visit that the government was “perplexed” by US threats, emphasizing that India’s oil purchases were intended to support energy market stability.
Analysts point out the uneven focus, noting that China imported significantly more Russian oil than India in 2024—USD 62.6 billion versus India’s USD 52.7 billion—yet Trump’s criticism has largely targeted India. The ongoing tariff row and trade tensions underline the challenges in maintaining a balanced US-India relationship amid global geopolitical pressures.
