Washington, August 11: White House Trade Advisor Peter Navarro stated on Tuesday that U.S. President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will find a solution through mutual dialogue regarding India’s purchase of Russian oil and the proposed high tariffs from the U.S.
During a press briefing at the White House, Navarro remarked, “President Trump and the Prime Minister have a very good working relationship. They will resolve this issue between themselves. It is not my place to comment on their discussions.”
Navarro was responding to a question referencing a bill associated with the late Republican Senator Lindsey Graham. This legislation could impose tariffs of up to 100% on countries purchasing Russian energy.
When asked if the proposed tariffs could further strain U.S.-India relations amid ongoing trade talks, Navarro did not directly address the potential tariffs. Instead, he referenced an article he wrote for the Financial Times a few months ago, which discussed energy trade between India and Russia.
He noted that his article argued that India’s purchase of Russian oil significantly increased following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. “Before the Russia-Ukraine war, India was not heavily involved in Russian oil trade, but its participation has grown substantially since then,” Navarro explained.
He also alleged that India is selling products related to Russian oil, providing Russia with financial support to continue its war. However, he did not provide any data to support this claim.
Navarro stated that the issue is now resolved but did not clarify what actions led to this resolution or whether he was referring to India’s oil purchases, petroleum product sales, or another aspect of trade. “This issue is now settled. Perhaps my article played a role in this,” he added.
His comments come at a time when trade discussions between Washington and New Delhi are ongoing. Previously, he defended the Trump administration’s broader tariff policy, stating that tariffs are encouraging foreign companies to establish factories in the U.S., boosting domestic investment.
“Because of tariffs, foreign investors are investing in the U.S. to avoid them and are setting up production facilities here. This is also promoting American investment,” Navarro said.
He acknowledged that inflation continues to pose challenges for American citizens. “We all understand that inflation and other issues are causing difficulties for the American people. However, we believe that our policies are starting to yield positive results.”
Last week, the U.S. Senate passed the ‘Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act 2026’ with a vote of 86-11. This law proposes to impose tariffs of up to 100% on the five largest buyers of Russian oil and gas, as well as on products from five major countries involved in evading sanctions.
However, India is not automatically included as a country that will face mandatory tariffs under this legislation.
Leave a Comment