Shashi Tharoor Urges Govt to Explore UK, EU Markets After US Tariff Hike

New Delhi, 7th August 2025: United States President Donald Trump has announced an additional 50% tariff on several Indian goods, citing India’s continued oil imports from Russia as the reason. The move has drawn sharp criticism from Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, who accused the US of adopting double standards and jeopardizing bilateral trade ties.

Trump’s announcement comes amid growing tensions over energy trade, as India continues to import crude oil from Russia despite pressure from Western allies. However, Tharoor pointed out that countries like China, which import significantly larger volumes of Russian oil, have been granted a 90-day exemption by the US administration.

“What kind of friendship is this?” asks Tharoor
In a statement to news agency ANI, Tharoor questioned the fairness of the US decision, saying, “China is buying much more oil and other materials from Russia, yet they get a 90-day waiver. Meanwhile, India faces a harsh tariff hike. This isn’t how friends treat each other.”

He also highlighted that the US continues to import strategic resources like uranium and palladium from Russia, underscoring what he described as Washington’s “double standards.”

Impact on Indo-US Trade Relations
Tharoor warned that the steep tariff could trigger retaliatory actions from India. “There is definitely a possibility that now there will be pressure to impose reciprocal tariffs on American exports,” he said. The move, he added, could strain the historically friendly economic ties between the two countries.

Tharoor Urges India to Diversify Trade Partners
Emphasizing the need for a strategic shift, Tharoor suggested that India must now look beyond the US. “We need to focus on other trading partners who are genuinely interested in our goods,” he said. He cited the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the United Kingdom and ongoing negotiations with the European Union as opportunities to explore new markets.

MEA Responds
Responding to the development, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) reiterated its stance on oil imports, stating that purchases from Russia are driven by market dynamics and the need to ensure energy security for India’s 1.4 billion people.

The MEA also emphasized that India has been transparent with its allies, and its oil import decisions are rooted in national interest.