Trump announces tariffs on India and penalty for Russian imports
"Remember, while India is our friend, we have, over the years, done relatively little business with them because their tariffs are far too high, among the highest in the world," the post said.
He then criticised what he described as India's 'strenuous and obnoxious' trade barriers.
India relies on Russia for around 35% of its crude oil imports, reaching a two-year import peak in June of this year, according to the Times of India. The US has imposed sanctions on Russian oil producers and tankers due to the ongoing full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
It also imports $80 billion or around €70 billion in Russian military equipment, such as fighter jets, missile systems, submarines and helicopters.
Trump accused India of buying "a vast majority of their military equipment from Russia and are Russia's largest buyer of energy" at a time when "everyone wants to Russia to stop the killing in Ukraine."
As a result, he intends to charge an additional unspecified 'penalty' starting on Friday as part of the launch of the administration's revised tariffs on multiple countries.
India and Russia have close relations, and New Delhi has not supported Western sanctions on Moscow over its war in Ukraine.
Earlier in July, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte warned that India, China and Brazil could face "secondary sanctions" for continuing to buy Russian oil during a meeting with Trump in the White House.
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