WASHINGTON, Sept. 10 — US President Donald Trump has pressed the European Union to levy tariffs as high as 100 percent on India and China for continuing to buy Russian crude oil, according to a Financial Times report citing officials familiar with the matter.
The demand was made Tuesday when Trump dialed into a Washington meeting between senior American and EU officials convened to discuss new measures aimed at raising the economic cost of Moscow’s war in Ukraine. A US official told the FT that Washington was ready to “mirror” any duties the EU might impose on the two Asian nations.
The move marks a dramatic turn in Washington’s posture toward New Delhi, coming only days after Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi exchanged upbeat messages on social media and spoke of strengthening bilateral relations, including efforts toward a trade deal.
Tensions escalated earlier this week when Trump doubled tariffs on Indian exports to 50 percent, including a 25 percent surcharge tied directly to India’s oil trade with Russia. New Delhi swiftly rejected the step, calling it “unfair, unjustified and unreasonable.”
Despite the flare-up, both leaders have publicly attempted to downplay the rift. “Our strategic partnership has grown stronger, and we continue to work toward resolving trade differences,” Modi posted on X, formerly Twitter, following his exchange with Trump.
Officials in the Trump administration have sharpened their criticism of India’s energy purchases from Moscow in recent days. White House trade adviser Peter Navarro accused India of enabling Russia’s wartime economy, claiming, “India has turned itself into a massive refining hub and oil money laundromat for the Kremlin.”
Indian officials have consistently defended the country’s oil imports, saying procurement decisions are shaped by energy security and market conditions rather than geopolitics. “India’s energy needs are driven by national interest and the welfare of its citizens,” an Indian government source noted in response to Washington’s pressure.
The friction over crude oil comes at a sensitive moment in US-India ties, which have often been characterized by a careful balancing act between cooperation on security and frictions over trade. Trump’s latest call for joint tariffs with Europe suggests Washington is seeking to extend its sanctions strategy globally — even at the risk of alienating key partners.
