By Charles Pemu 
WASHINGTON — The United States has imposed additional tariffs on India in a move to punish New Delhi for its continued purchase of discounted Russian oil and defense equipment, dealing a significant blow to the world’s fastest-growing major economy. The new tariffs have raised the total duty on many Indian goods to 50%, deepening a rift between Washington and its key Indo-Pacific partner.
U.S. officials argue that India’s trade with Moscow is indirectly financing Russia’s military actions in Ukraine, a claim that New Delhi has rejected as “unjustified and unreasonable.” The new tariffs are expected to have a major economic impact, potentially causing a 70% plunge in exports from affected sectors like textiles, gems, and jewelry, with analysts warning of risks to economic growth and jobs.
India has remained firm in its defense of the oil purchases, citing the critical need for affordable energy to fuel its economy and maintain price stability for its 1.4 billion citizens. Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has pointed out what he calls hypocrisy from the West, noting that European countries trade far more with Russia than India does.
The U.S. action is viewed as an aggressive economic tactic to pressure Russia, but it risks pushing India closer to Moscow and Beijing. Despite the new tariffs, India has stated it will not be deterred from pursuing its national interests, even as refiners may slightly reduce their Russian oil purchases. This comes after the previous U.S. administration had welcomed India’s purchases as a way to help stabilize global energy prices.