After slapping an additional 25% tariff on goods coming from India, US President Donald Trump on Wednesday hinted that more secondary sanctions could be imposed against those who import oil from Russia.
“You're going to see a lot more...You're going to see so much secondary sanctions, " Trump told reporters during a press briefing in the White House.
Trump’s reaction came when he was asked why the US is singling out India for additional sanctions even though many other countries, including China, are importing Russian oil.
“We did it with India. We are doing it probably with a couple of others, one of them could be China,” he said.
To a question that if he reaches a deal with Ukraine and Russia, would he drop the additional tariffs on India, Trump said, "We will determine that later, but right now, they are paying a 50 per cent tariff."
On Wednesday, Trump signed an executive order, imposing an additional tariff over an above the 25 per cent levy, which comes into effect from August 7.
After this order, the total tariff on Indian goods, barring a small exemption list, will be 50 per cent.
In the order, Trump cited matters of national security and foreign policy concerns, as well as other relevant trade laws, for the increase, claiming that India's imports of Russian oil, directly or indirectly, pose an "unusual and extraordinary threat" to the United States.
India termed the US move “unfair, unjustified and unreasonable” and said New Delhi will take all actions necessary to protect its national interests.
In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs reiterated that India’s imports are based on market factors and done with the overall objective of ensuring the energy security of 1.4 billion people of the country.
“It is therefore extremely unfortunate that the US should choose to impose additional tariffs on India for actions that several other countries are also taking in their own national interest,” the MEA said.