India Pushes Back Against U.S. Tariffs, Accuses West of Hypocrisy on Russian Trade
In a sharp and detailed statement, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has refuted recent accusations from the United States and the European Union regarding its continued import of Russian oil. The statement, released on August 4, 2025, comes in the wake of U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to impose significant new tariffs on Indian goods, a move he linked directly to India’s trade with Russia.
President Trump has been vocal on social media, announcing a 25% tariff on Indian imports, with an additional unspecified “penalty” for India’s energy and military purchases from Moscow. In a recent tweet, the President wrote:
“India is not only buying massive amounts of Russian Oil, they are then, for much of the Oil purchased, selling it on the Open Market for big profits. They don’t care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine. Because of this, I will be substantially raising the Tariff paid by India to the USA. Thank you for your attention to this matter!!!”
In another post, the President also lashed out at India’s economy, calling it “dead.” He wrote, “I don’t care what India does with Russia. They can take their dead economies down together, for all I care. We have done very little business with India, their Tariffs are too high, among the highest in the World. Likewise, Russia and the USA do almost no business together….”
These statements immediately set off a firestorm of criticism and commentary on social media, with many users from India and abroad condemning the President’s tone and factual claims.
One prominent commentator, a former Indian diplomat, tweeted, “President Trump’s ‘dead economy’ jibe is not only factually wrong but deeply disrespectful. India is one of the world’s fastest-growing major economies. This is a clear attempt at bullying, and India’s strategic autonomy must be non-negotiable.”
Another user pointed out the perceived double standard, posting a detailed list of European and U.S. trade with Russia and adding the caption: “The hypocrisy is staggering. The very countries lecturing India are the ones with far deeper trade ties to Russia. India’s energy imports are a matter of national security and consumer affordability, not a political choice.”
The hashtag #IndiaStandsStrong began to trend, with many users echoing the MEA’s stance. “India’s foreign policy is based on its national interest, not on the dictates of any other country,” wrote one user, “We will not be bullied. We will not be lectured.”
In its official statement, the Indian government called the targeting of India “unjustified and unreasonable.” The MEA’s spokesperson highlighted several key points to counter the Western narrative and defend India’s position.
First, the statement clarified the context of India’s decision to import Russian oil. It explained that India began importing from Russia because its traditional suppliers redirected their energy exports to Europe following the outbreak of the Ukraine conflict. The MEA also pointed out a surprising detail: at the time, the U.S. “actively encouraged such imports by India for strengthening global energy markets stability.”
The statement went on to expose what it called the “revealing” hypocrisy of the nations criticizing India. The MEA detailed that the European Union’s bilateral trade with Russia in 2024 was a staggering €67.5 billion in goods and an estimated €17.2 billion in services in 2023. These figures, the statement noted, are “significantly more than India’s total trade with Russia that year or subsequently.” European imports of Russian LNG also reached a record 16.5 million tonnes in 2024, surpassing a previous record set in 2022.
Furthermore, the MEA’s statement highlighted that Europe’s trade with Russia isn’t limited to energy but also includes a range of other crucial products, such as “fertilizers, mining products, chemicals, iron and steel and machinery and transport equipment.”
The Indian government also turned its attention to the United States, which has been at the forefront of the criticism and sanctions. The MEA stated that the U.S. “continues to import from Russia uranium hexafluoride for its nuclear industry, palladium for its EV industry, fertilizers as well as chemicals.”
The statement concluded with a firm declaration: “In this background, the targeting of India is unjustified and unreasonable. Like any major economy, India will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security.”
The recent developments mark a significant downturn in U.S.-India relations, a partnership that had been cultivated over decades. The new tariffs, which are set to take effect on August 7, could have a substantial impact on India’s exports and the broader global economy. India has made it clear that while it remains open to trade negotiations, it will not compromise on its national interests or economic security.
Text of the Press release by Ministry of External Affairs is as follows:
Ministry of External Affairs
Government of India
Statement by Official Spokesperson
Date: August 04, 2025
India has been targeted by the United States and the European Union for importing oil from Russia after the commencement of the Ukraine conflict. In fact, India began importing from Russia because traditional supplies were diverted to Europe after the outbreak of the conflict. The United States at that time actively encouraged such imports by India for strengthening global energy markets stability.
2. India’s imports are meant to ensure predictable and affordable energy costs to the Indian consumer. They are a necessity compelled by global market situation. However, it is revealing that the very nations criticizing India are themselves indulging in trade with Russia. Unlike our case, such trade is not even a vital national compulsion.
3. The European Union in 2024 had a bilateral trade of Euro 67.5 billion in goods with Russia. In addition, it had trade in services estimated at Euro 17.2 billion in 2023. This is significantly more than India’s total trade with Russia that year or subsequently. European imports of LNG in 2024, in fact, reached a record 16.5mn tonnes, surpassing the last record of 15.21mn tonnes in 2022.
4. Europe-Russia trade includes not just energy, but also fertilizers, mining products, chemicals, iron and steel and machinery and transport equipment.
5. Where the United States is concerned, it continues to import from Russia uranium hexafluoride for its nuclear industry, palladium for its EV industry, fertilizers as well as chemicals.
6. In this background, the targeting of India is unjustified and unreasonable. Like any major economy, India will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security.
New Delhi
August 04, 2025
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