Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: The United States will drop 25 per cent tariff linked to Russian oil purchases as part of India’s agreement to stop buying crude from Russia, the White House said on February 2. “As part of India’s agreement to cease Russian oil purchases, the 25 per cent Russian oil-related tariff will be dropped,” a White House official said after President Donald Trump, following a phone call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said that the two countries have reached a trade deal.
The senior US administration official, said that the 25 per cent additional tariff was directly tied to India’s purchases of Russian oil and would now be removed following New Delhi’s commitment to cease such imports. The move links trade policy directly to energy and geopolitical objectives, reflecting Washington’s effort to use economic tools to curb Russia’s revenue from oil exports amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Since the start of the conflict, the United States has pressed allies and partners to reduce or eliminate purchases of Russian energy, arguing that oil revenues help finance Moscow’s military campaign. India has emerged as a major buyer of discounted Russian crude since the war began, sharply increasing imports to meet domestic energy needs. Indian officials have consistently said that energy decisions are driven by national interest and market considerations.
At the same time, India has called for an end to the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy and has maintained engagement with both Russia and Western partners.