Webdesk: The Trump administration has expressed strong disappointment with the Modi government over India’s continued oil trade with Russia.
In an interview, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that India buys oil from Russia and then sells it in the form of refined fuel.
He also pointed out that India has not behaved like a country willing to take on a global leadership role.
President Donald Trump and the entire US team are disappointed with India’s approach, Bessent said speaking about future trade agreements.
He added that any possible deal between the US and India now depends on how India chooses to respond.
Earlier, after a warning from President Trump, India’s state-owned oil refineries had paused their purchase of Russian oil.
According to news reports, India is the world’s third-largest importer of oil and remains the biggest buyer of Russian seaborne crude.
On July 14, Trump had warned that any country continuing to import oil from Russia could face a 100 per cent tariff.
Meanwhile, under President Trump’s leadership, the US has introduced a new global trade tariff policy.
This policy includes different import tax rates for different countries. Pakistan has received relatively lenient treatment compared to its regional rival, India.
A report from the White House shows that Pakistan has been placed under a 19 per cent import tax.
While India will now face a 25 per cent tariff. This decision is being viewed as a notable diplomatic gain for Pakistan.
Analysts believe the favourable position given to Pakistan is linked to recent high-level diplomatic engagements.
These included a meeting between Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir and President Trump, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s communication with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
And visits to Washington by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb.
In April 2025, U.S. proposed a new tariff layer:
— Mansoor Ahmed Qureshi (@MansurQr) August 1, 2025
🇵🇰 Pakistan – 29%
🇮🇳 India – 26%
Now, after separate negotiations:
🇵🇰 Reduced to 19% (deal struck)
🇮🇳 Now 25% (talks failed)
Deals make a difference. Diplomacy saves billions.
The same report mentions that Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand have also been placed under a 19 per cent tariff.
On the other hand, India, Kazakhstan, and Moldova have been assigned a 25 per cent rate.
Countries like South Africa, Libya, and Algeria will face a 30 per cent tariff, while Myanmar and Laos have been hit with 40 per cent. Syria faces the steepest rate at 41 per cent.
Interestingly, even traditional US allies have not been spared. Israel has been given a 15 per cent tariff, while Canada’s import duty rate has been increased from 25 to 35 per cent.
Read more: US imposes trade tariffs, Pakistan gets major relief over India
