New Delhi, JAN 5: US President Donald Trump has warned that Washington could quickly raise tariffs on Indian goods if New Delhi continues importing oil from Russia, saying Prime Minister Narendra Modi was aware of his unhappiness on the issue.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday (local time), Trump said India’s energy trade choices were closely linked to its broader trade relationship with the United States. “Prime Minister Modi is a very good man. He’s a good guy. He knew I was not happy,” Trump said. “It was important to make me happy. They do trade, and we can raise tariffs on them very quickly.”
The remarks come amid increased scrutiny in Washington over India’s oil purchases from Russia, which New Delhi has defended as necessary for domestic energy security amid global price volatility.
Trump’s warning also follows a recent telephonic conversation between the two leaders, during which both sides spoke of sustaining momentum in bilateral trade despite ongoing tariff-related tensions. The call coincided with a fresh round of negotiations between Indian and US officials aimed at resolving a long-standing trade impasse.
Only days before that conversation, Trump had threatened new tariffs on Indian rice imports after a US farmer representative alleged dumping by India, China and Thailand during a White House roundtable discussion.
Meanwhile, recent US military action against Venezuela has brought global oil politics back into focus. Venezuela holds the world’s largest proven oil reserves—estimated at over 300 billion barrels—but production has fallen sharply to about one million barrels per day due to sanctions and years of underinvestment.
