‘Aggressive economic leverage’: JD Vance defends Trump’s India tariffs, says Russia made ‘first real concessions’ in Ukraine war (Financial Express)
The US Vice President JD Vance has escalated pressure on India by justifying possible secondary tariffs of up to 50% on its imports of discounted Russian crude, arguing that New Delhi’s purchases are indirectly funding Moscow’s war in Ukraine, even as he claimed that Trump’s hardline stance had pushed Putin into his first “real concessions” since the invasion. India has strongly rejected these charges, calling the move unfair and unreasonable, pointing out that many Western nations, including Europe and the US itself, continue to buy Russian energy, while Washington avoids confronting China, the largest importer of Russian crude. This growing friction highlights how India’s strategic oil ties with Moscow are colliding with Trump’s renewed sanctions push, with New Delhi signalling it will not alter its policy despite American pressure.
India hires second US lobbying firm ahead of 50% tariff hike on exports (The Economic Times)
Just days before the US slaps a steep 50% tariff on Indian exports, the Indian Embassy in Washington DC, has hired a second lobbying firm, Mercury Public Affairs, on a $75,000-a-month contract to handle federal lobbying, media relations, and digital strategy, with a team that includes ex-Trump aides and even the first Indian-American elected to the New York State Senate. This move, coming on top of an earlier $1.8 million year-long deal with Jason Miller’s SHW Partners, reflects New Delhi’s urgency to strengthen its voice in Washington, especially amid criticism that Pakistan has been more effective at courting Trump’s circle through its own lobbying hires. While India insists its discounted Russian oil purchases are a matter of national interest and market dynamics, the Trump administration has tied these directly to the tariff escalation, forcing New Delhi to fight on both diplomatic and economic fronts to protect its trade.
India will buy oil from wherever it gets "best deal": Indian envoy slams US tariffs as "unfair, unjustified" (The Economic Times)
India’s Ambassador to Russia, Vinay Kumar, has firmly defended New Delhi’s right to buy oil “from wherever it gets the best deal,” dismissing the US decision to impose 50% tariffs on Indian exports as unfair, unreasonable, and unjustified, while stressing that energy security for 1.4 billion people remains the government’s top priority. He highlighted that India’s cooperation with Russia has actually helped stabilise the global oil market, pointed out that Western nations themselves continue trading with Moscow, and assured that payments in national currencies with Russia are functioning smoothly. Beyond energy, Kumar underlined that India wants to expand its exports to Russia in sectors like electronics, automobiles, textiles, and digital services, even as External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar reiterated that New Delhi will take all necessary steps to protect farmers, small producers, and the country’s broader national interests in the face of Washington’s escalating tariff measures.
