New Delhi: India on Wednesday strongly criticised the United States’ decision to impose an additional 25 per cent tariff on Indian goods, calling the move “coercive, unjust and unjustified”. The sharp response from New Delhi came hours after US President Donald Trump signed an executive order enforcing the new tariffs, citing India’s continued purchase of Russian crude oil despite Western sanctions.
The fresh tariff is in addition to a 25 per cent duty already announced earlier by the US President.
In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said India would take all necessary steps to protect its national interests. “We reiterate that this action is coercive, unjust and unjustified,” the statement said.
The MEA defended India’s oil imports from Russia, stating they are guided by market dynamics and the goal of securing the energy needs of India’s 1.4 billion people.
“It is, therefore, very unfortunate that the United States chose to impose additional tariffs on India, that too at a time when many other countries are taking decisions in accordance with their national interests,” the statement added.
