Washington, Sep 23 – In a significant signal for India–US economic relations, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggested that the Trump administration may reconsider the additional 25 per cent tariffs imposed on Indian goods due to New Delhi’s continued imports of Russian oil.
Speaking to NBC News, Rubio stressed the administration’s focus on ending the Ukraine conflict but acknowledged that punitive measures against India might need adjustment. “We have already seen the measures we have taken with regards to India, although that’s something we hope we can fix,” Rubio said.
While addressing India’s case, Rubio was sharply critical of European nations. He accused them of not matching Washington’s efforts against Moscow, saying, “Right now, there are countries in Europe that are still buying massive amounts of oil and natural gas from Russia, which is absurd. They’re asking for the US to impose more sanctions, but there are countries in Europe that are not doing enough.”
Rubio also left the door open for further sanctions against Russia. “At some point, the President may have to decide to impose new sanctions. He has the ability to do more, and he’s considering doing more because of the direction this has taken,” he noted.
Strengthening India–US Dialogue
Rubio’s remarks followed his meeting with India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session. Calling India a country of “critical value” to Washington, Rubio welcomed ongoing trade interactions and the prospect of stronger engagement.
EAM Jaishankar confirmed the discussions in a post on X: “Our conversation covered a range of bilateral and international issues of current concern. Agreed on the importance of sustained engagement to progress on priority areas.”
Meanwhile, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal also held discussions with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in New York. Sources indicated the talks focused on ironing out long-standing trade hurdles, with both sides hopeful of reaching an interim agreement soon.
A Balancing Act
The developments highlight the complexity of India–US ties, which straddle strategic alignment in the Indo-Pacific, shared concerns on global security, and tensions over energy purchases from Russia. While tariffs remain a sticking point, Rubio’s comments point to a possible opening for compromise as both nations look to advance trade negotiations and deepen strategic cooperation.
