India Calls US Targeting India As 'Unjustified' And 'Unreasonable'

Days after the US President Donald Trump issued an executive order imposing high tariff rates against several countries, including India, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), India has issued an official statement. The Indian government has called the US’s imposition of tariffs on goods imported from India on the pretext of buying Russian Oil as Unjustified and Unreasonable.

The Indian government has reiterated its stand to safeguard its national interests and economic security. In the official statement, India raised concerns of being targeted by the US and EU for importing Russian Oil. Whereas India has clarified its stand that the country bought Russian oil after the US encouragement to stabilize the European energy market.

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“India has been targeted by the United States and the European Union for importing oil from Russia after the commencement of the Ukraine conflict. India began importing from Russia because traditional supplies were diverted to Europe after the outbreak of the conflict. The United States at that time actively encouraged such imports by India for strengthening global energy market stability”, the MEA said.

“India’s imports are meant to ensure predictable and affordable energy costs to the Indian consumer. They are a necessity compelled by the global market situation. However, it is revealing that the very nations criticizing India are themselves indulging in trade with Russia. Unlike our case, such trade is not even a vital national compulsion”, the official statement said.

While pointing to a substantial trade relation between the EU and Russia, MEA said, “The European Union in 2024 had a bilateral trade of Euro 67.5 billion in goods with Russia. In addition, it had trade in services estimated at Euro 17.2 billion in 2023. This is significantly more than India’s total trade with Russia that year or subsequently. European imports of LNG in 2024, in fact, reached a record 16.5mn tonnes, surpassing the last record of 15.21mn tonnes in 2022”.

“Europe-Russia trade includes not just energy, but also fertilizers, mining products, chemicals, iron and steel and machinery and transport equipment”, it added.

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Mentioning the US-Russian trade products, Indian ministry also highlighted key areas beteen both the countries. “Where the United States is concerned, it continues to import from Russia uranium hexafluoride for its nuclear industry, palladium for its EV industry, fertilizers as well as chemicals”, MEA mentioned.

Indian government has took its stand firm against any pressure of economic taxes and said, “the targeting of India is unjustified and unreasonable. Like any major economy, India will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security”.