US Threatens Higher Tariffs on India if Trump-Putin Talks Fail
Written by Faith Utubor on August 14, 2025
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned that additional tariffs could be imposed on India if President Donald Trump’s meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Anchorage, Alaska, on Friday fails to yield progress on a Ukraine ceasefire.
The US has already imposed a 50% tariff on Indian imports, including a 25% penalty for India’s purchase of Russian oil and weapons, which constitute 35-40% of its oil imports in 2024, up from 3% in 2021.
Bessent urged European nations to support these sanctions, criticizing their reluctance.
India’s reliance on discounted Russian crude has strained US-India relations, complicating trade talks, with potential further sanctions looming if the Alaska summit falters.
