The Democratic panel of the US House Foreign Affairs Committee has sharply criticised President Donald Trump’s move to impose a 50 per cent tariff on Indian goods in response to New Delhi’s continued purchase of Russian oil. The panel argued that such a measure would have little impact on Russian President Vladimir Putin or the war in Ukraine, calling instead for direct action against Moscow and stronger military support for Kyiv.
The criticism followed remarks by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who cautioned India about potential secondary tariffs linked to its oil trade with Russia. Speaking to Bloomberg, Bessent noted that future tariff hikes would hinge on the outcome of Trump’s high-profile meeting with Putin in Alaska, which he described as “productive” and potentially opening the door to negotiations.
Addressing concerns over China’s position as the largest buyer of Russian crude, Bessent avoided specifics but stressed that President Trump was focused on maximizing leverage in talks with Putin. He added that all options remain available as the administration weighs its next steps in dealing with Russia’s actions in Ukraine.
