Trump Hits at Russia Over Oil Exports to India, Calls It a ‘Big Blow’
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US President Donald Trump has once again taken aim at Russia’s economy and this time, India is in the middle of the storm. On Monday, Trump described his 50% tariffs on India for buying Russian oil as a “big blow” to Moscow, just days after calling Russia’s economy “dead.”
Speaking to reporters ahead of his August 15 meeting with President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, Trump said, “I’m going to meet him…Their (Russia’s) economy is not doing well right now because it’s been very well disturbed by this. It doesn’t help when the President of the United States tells their largest or second-largest oil buyer that we are putting a 50 percent tariff on you if you buy oil from Russia. That was a big blow.”
Trump hinted he had “far bigger” actions planned against Russia but decided to hold back after receiving a call to meet Putin. “I haven’t stopped there. I mean, look, I was all set to do things far bigger than that. But I got a call that they’d like to meet and I’m going to see what they want to meet about,” he said.
The move has escalated tensions with New Delhi. India had already been hit with 25% tariffs, followed by another 25% hike for continuing to import Russian oil even as Washington refrained from imposing new tariffs on China, Moscow’s top oil buyer.
New Delhi fired back, calling the tariffs “unjustified and unreasonable” and accusing the US and EU of double standards, pointing out America’s continued uranium imports from Russia.
When asked about India’s criticism, Trump sidestepped, saying, “I don’t know anything about it. I have to check…But we will get back to you on this.”
He later made it clear that trade talks with India are now frozen until the oil issue is resolved. “No, not until we get it resolved,” Trump said when pressed on future negotiations.
The Alaska meeting with Putin could now decide whether Trump turns up the economic heat or shifts strategy entirely.
Speaking to reporters ahead of his August 15 meeting with President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, Trump said, “I’m going to meet him…Their (Russia’s) economy is not doing well right now because it’s been very well disturbed by this. It doesn’t help when the President of the United States tells their largest or second-largest oil buyer that we are putting a 50 percent tariff on you if you buy oil from Russia. That was a big blow.”
Trump hinted he had “far bigger” actions planned against Russia but decided to hold back after receiving a call to meet Putin. “I haven’t stopped there. I mean, look, I was all set to do things far bigger than that. But I got a call that they’d like to meet and I’m going to see what they want to meet about,” he said.
The move has escalated tensions with New Delhi. India had already been hit with 25% tariffs, followed by another 25% hike for continuing to import Russian oil even as Washington refrained from imposing new tariffs on China, Moscow’s top oil buyer.
New Delhi fired back, calling the tariffs “unjustified and unreasonable” and accusing the US and EU of double standards, pointing out America’s continued uranium imports from Russia.
When asked about India’s criticism, Trump sidestepped, saying, “I don’t know anything about it. I have to check…But we will get back to you on this.”
He later made it clear that trade talks with India are now frozen until the oil issue is resolved. “No, not until we get it resolved,” Trump said when pressed on future negotiations.
The Alaska meeting with Putin could now decide whether Trump turns up the economic heat or shifts strategy entirely.
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