Perhaps the most sharp attack on India regarding Russian oil purchase, the White House trade advisor Peter Navaro claimed that India is making the Ukraine war “permanent” by purchasing Russian crude oil at concessional rates.
Peter Novaro alleged that India is working as a “was washing for Kremlin”, said that India’s purchase is getting permission to raise money for its war efforts in Ukraine, while New Delhi is earning profit from this transaction.
The White House trade advisor said, “It seems India does not want to accept its role in this bloodshed. He is raising closeness with Xi Jinping (Chinese President). He (India) (India) (Russian) does not need oil. Doing peace, it is not promoting war. “
Significantly, his statement came after the emphasis of assuming India as a “valuable independent and democratic partner” in the global attempt to combat China’s growing influence by former US ambassador to the United Nations. In his article in Newsweek, he warned that damage to 25 years of speed in the US-India relations would be a “strategic disaster”.
He urged Donald Trump to “stop this decline” and interact directly with Prime Minister Modi, “it is as good as possible,” he said.
Haley believes that India is the only country that can serve as a retaliation of Chinese dominance in Asia, making it important to maintain a strong partnership for the US.
In addition, the famous economist Jeffrey Sachs has strongly criticized the US administration’s decision to impose heavy tariffs on India and described it as “bizarre” and “very suicide for the interests of US foreign policy”.
In a recent interview to ANI, Sachs expressed concern that these fees would weaken the years of efforts to strengthen the US-India relations. Sachs described these fees as “the strategy, but the most silly strategic move of” vandalism “and” American foreign policy “, which has united BRICS countries more than ever.
Trump had announced a 25 percent tariff on Indian goods in July, while an interim trade agreement between Indo-US and USA was expecting, which would help to avoid increased tariffs otherwise. A few days later, he put 25 percent more tariffs citing continuous imports of Russian oil by India, causing the total tariff to 50 percent.
Additionally, Navaro argued that India did not need Russian oil, stating that before the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, India imported less than one percent of its oil from Russia, while now it imports about 35–40 percent.
He said, “Before the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, India virtually did not bought any Russian oil … Now, when this percentage has increased to 30-35%, it is argument that they somehow need Russian oil, rubbish. Russian refiner is involved in a game with Italian refiners in which they get cheap Russian raw oil on the discounts, which they get a sophisticated product. And sell at premium prices in Asia. “
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin said during a press conference held in Alaska with Trump on 16 August that there has been a 20 percent increase in bilateral trade between the two countries since Trump became President.
Navaro further stated that the US has imposed a 50% tariff on Indian goods since August 27, citing continuous purchase of Russian oil amidst gearful tension over the Russia-Ukraine war. The total tariff rate includes basic 10% fee, 25% mutual tariff and additional 25% tariffs.
He described India’s obstacles as “high tariffs, Maharaja tariffs, high non-tariff barriers” and argued that they are increasing the “heavy” trade deficit of America, which “is damaging American workers” and “damage to American businesses.”
Navaro said, “25% of tariffs were imposed in India because they cheat us in business. Then 25% of Russian oil. Their tariffs are more, Maharaja tariff. We have a huge business deficit with them. This causes damage to American workers and businesses. Then they buy money from the money that they earn by selling goods, which they buy, which are rewarded, but then you use the money, but then use the money, but then the money is used there, but again Weapons do more help to the Ukrainians in the military manner, and President Trump considers this board beautifully, in many ways, the path of peace passes through New Delhi.
Navaro’s remarks have come at a time when External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has responded to India’s criticism by US authorities over energy relations with Russia and said that the US itself has asked New Delhi to help stabilizing global energy markets by purchasing Russian oil.
Jaishankar criticized the American argument of imposing tariffs on India, while China is the largest buyer of Russian oil and is the largest buyer of European Union LNG.
Jaishankar said in response to a question, “We are not the biggest buyers of Russian oil; He is China. We are not the biggest buyers of LNG, we are not the European Union. We are not the country that will have the biggest business bounce with Russia after 2022; I think there are some countries in the south. We are a country where we have said that we have to buy the world energy market for the last few years. It is a chance that we also buy oil from America.
Meanwhile, Chinese Ambassador to India, Shoo Faihong, opposed the US decision to impose 50% tariffs on Indian goods, warning that “silence or compromise leads to the spirits of the bullying.” He stressed that China would stand firmly with India to maintain the multilateral trade system by keeping the World Trade Organization (WTO) at the center.
Shoo criticized the US that he was using tariffs as bargaining tactics, while he has greatly benefited from free trade in the past. He said that tariff war and trade war is destroying the global economic and business system, where the politics of power and the jungle law dominates.
Shoo emphasized the importance of strengthening the cooperation between China and India to help developing countries overcome difficulties and to protect international fairness and justice.
The Ministry of External Affairs has maintained a fierce attitude that India will take all necessary steps to protect its national interests, even if the US is trying to pressurize New Delhi.
The Ministry of External Affairs said in an official statement, “In recent times, the US has targeted India’s oil imports from Russia. We have already made our position on these issues, including the fact that our import is based on market factors and is done with the overall objective of ensuring energy security of 1.4 billion people of India.”
The statement said, “Therefore it is extremely unfortunate that the US has decided to impose additional fees on India for such steps, which many other countries are also raising in their national interest.”
