Overview
- Speaking to reporters on Air Force One, President Donald Trump said the United States can raise tariffs on India "very quickly" if it does not further curb purchases of Russian oil, adding that Prime Minister Narendra Modi knew he was "not happy."
- At a House GOP retreat a day later, Trump said Modi was "not that happy" with him because India is "paying a lot of tariffs," while asserting Indian imports of Russian oil have been reduced substantially.
- U.S. duties on Indian goods were doubled to as much as 50% in 2025, including a 25% penalty tied specifically to Russian oil purchases, and talks to ease the levies have yet to yield a deal.
- Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, traveling with Trump, credited sanctions and tariffs with cutting India’s Russian oil buys and is backing legislation to allow tariffs of up to 500% on countries that continue those purchases.
- India cites energy security and market pricing to defend its oil sourcing, has asked refiners for weekly disclosures of Russian and U.S. volumes, and faces mixed data showing a November uptick in Russian imports and signs of a December decline from analytics firms.