It seems that India will not stop buying Russian oil, and it is set to increase its imports in September despite the Trump administration doubling tariffs on Indian exports from August 27.
According to Reuters, dealers told the news agency that despite US pressure, Indian refiners are expected to increase crude purchases by 10–20% compared to August.
US President Trump imposed a reciprocal tariff of 25% and later enhanced it to 50%, citing India’s purchase of Russian crude.
India has become one of the largest buyers of Russian crude since US sanctions on Russia after it invaded Ukraine in 2022.
As per reports, India was buying 1.5–1.6 million barrels per day of Russian oil in mid-2024, which accounted for 40% of India’s crude requirement.
On the other hand, the House Foreign Affairs Committee Democrats have criticised US President Donald Trump for imposing tariffs on India over its purchase of Russian oil, while sparing China and other countries buying larger quantities.
In a post, the Committee alleged that Trump’s decision to focus solely on India with tariffs is “hurting Americans & sabotaging the US-India relationship in the process.” The committee questioned the administration’s intent, remarking, “It’s almost like it’s not about Ukraine at all.”
Quoting a media report, they stated, “It would be one thing if the Trump administration had opted to follow through on the threat of secondary sanctions for any country that purchases Russian oil. But the decision to focus solely on India has resulted in perhaps the most confusing policy outcome of all: China, the largest importer of Russian energy, is still purchasing oil at discount prices and has so far been spared similar punishment.”
The post was shared on X on Wednesday, coinciding with the day the 50 per cent tariffs on imports from India to the United States came into effect.
This follows the draft notice published by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) that stated that the order would come into effect from August 27.
