By Admin 
US President Donald Trump has said that it was not an easy decision to impose tariffs (tax) due to buying Russian oil on India. He said that this caused a strain in the relationship between the two countries.
In an interview to Fox News, Trump said, “India was the biggest customer in Russia. I imposed 50% tariff on India, because they were buying oil from Russia. It was a big step and this increased differences with India.” Trump also said that Russia’s issue is more in Europe, less of America. He claimed that during his tenure he resolved many major controversies, including the issue of Pakistan-India.
India defended the purchase of oil from Russia
On the other hand, India has defended the purchase of Russian oil. India says that the purchase of energy depends on its national interest and market status.
Pressure from America
Sergio Gore, a nominated candidate for the post of Ambassador in India of Trump administration, said that the US wants India to buy American oil and petroleum products. He says that India’s more than 140 million population and fast growing middle class is a big market for America.
What did the American Commerce Secretary say?
Talking to CNBC, American Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnik also indicated that if India stops buying Russian oil, then the trade agreement between the two countries may open.
Effect on India-US relations
In the last few months, there has been a lot of ups and downs in the relations between India and America, where India’s buying oil from Russia has caused the main dispute. The Modi government has said its side on this, saying that taking oil from Russia is completely in the national interest, because it gives cheaper fuel and ensures the energy security of the people. Meanwhile, in August, the US imposed 25% additional tariffs on some Indian products, which increased the total fee to 50%. Which is the highest among all the business partners of America.
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