US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has warned that Washington could impose additional secondary tariffs on India if President Donald Trump’s meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday fails to yield progress on the Ukraine conflict, the BBC reported Thursday.
Speaking to Bloomberg TV, Bessent said, “We’ve put secondary tariffs on Indians for buying Russian oil. If things don’t go well, sanctions or secondary tariffs could go up.” Earlier this month, the Trump administration levied a 25% penalty on India—on top of existing 25% tariffs—for purchasing oil and weapons from Russia.
India’s imports of Russian crude surged to 35–40% of its total oil purchases in 2024, up from just 3% in 2021, straining New Delhi’s trade ties with Washington and stalling ongoing negotiations. Delhi has defended its buying strategy, citing the need to secure affordable energy for millions of low-income citizens.
Bessent urged European nations to align with Washington’s sanctions policy, saying they “need to be willing to put on these secondary sanctions.” His comments come after he described India as “a bit recalcitrant” in trade talks.
Trade relations are set to face a further blow as Trump’s new 50% tariff rate on India takes effect on August 27—making it the most heavily taxed US trading partner in Asia. Analysts warn the measure could slash India’s export revenues in key sectors such as textiles and jewellery, and shave up to 0.5% off its economic growth.
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