Paradoxical Trump asks EU to slap 100% tariff on India over Russian Oil Trade

Despite praising ties with India, Trump urges the EU to impose 100% tariffs on India and China for buying Russian oil, exposing contradictions in his geopolitical and trade approach.

New Delhi: US President Donald Trump has once again taken a tough stand on the international platform and has talked about imposing up to 100% import duty (tariff) on India and China. Trump's proposal has come at a time when the US and the European Union (EU) are planning to increase economic pressure on Russia so that it can be forced to end the Ukraine war.

Trump's direct interference in the US-EU meeting

This information has come to light from a report by The Financial Times. According to the report, during a high-level meeting of US and European officials in Washington, Trump called directly and said that if Europe supports the US, then up to a 100% tariff can be imposed on India and China. He stressed that, "We are ready, but will move forward only when our European partners come together."

Increasing tariffs on India-China: Impact of buying oil from Russia

Trump's move is aimed at putting pressure on major countries buying oil from Russia—India and China. The US wants both these countries to stop buying oil from Russia so that the Kremlin does not get the economic resources needed for the war.

• The US has already imposed a 50% tariff on Indian goods.
• A 30% tariff is in place on China, but the US has been cautious about it so far.
• According to Trump, "dramatic tariffs" will remain in place until China stops buying oil.

Trump's disappointment and political contradiction

The Trump administration is angry with the delay in stopping the Ukraine-Russia war. He had earlier claimed that after becoming president, he could get a peace agreement done in "a few hours." But now his strategy seems to be getting tougher.

Interestingly, contradictions are also being seen in Trump's statements. While he is talking about tariffs on India, just a few days ago he wrote on his social media platform Truth Social that "India and the US will continue to negotiate to remove trade barriers."

Displeasure with the meeting of Modi, Putin, and Jinping

This statement came after Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Chinese President Xi Jinping met at the recent SCO Summit, and the three leaders were seen united. After this, Trump shared a photo and quipped, "Looks like we have lost India and Russia to the deepest, darkest China."

However, later he clarified this and said that relations with India are strong and Prime Minister Modi is a "Good Friend."

Geopolitical pressure and India's dilemma

This strategy of Trump shows that America is now ready to tighten the screws on its allies to put pressure on Russia. This situation can be complicated for India—on one hand there is a cheap supply of oil from Russia, and on the other hand there is pressure from the US and European countries.

India may have to face a big challenge in the coming times to maintain a balance at the level of diplomacy and trade policy.