Washington: The United States has stepped up criticism of India’s continued oil imports from Russia, with President Donald Trump and senior officials justifying the recent decision to impose an additional 50% tariff.
US Treasury Secretary Scott accused India of making “excessive profits” by purchasing discounted Russian crude and reselling refined products in global markets. He pointed out that since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war, China’s oil imports from Russia increased by only 3%, while India’s surged by over 40%. This, he said, allowed India to generate an estimated $16 billion in additional revenue.
Scott defended Washington’s softer stance on China, arguing that higher tariffs on Beijing could have driven up global fuel prices. Before the war, China’s Russian imports stood at 13% and rose to just 16% afterward, compared to India’s sharp rise.
Earlier, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said China refines Russian oil before selling it worldwide, and warned that imposing further restrictions on Beijing would risk global energy price spikes.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasized that the move against India was part of a broader strategy to increase pressure on Moscow. She stated that President Trump’s priority is to bring the Ukraine war to an end, and targeting countries engaged in significant trade with Russia is central to that policy.