President Donald Trump on Tuesday feigned ignorance on the US’s chemical and fertiliser imports from Russia, days after India accused Washington of hypocrisy amid tariff threats over Russian oil imports.
“I don’t know anything about it,” he said when a reporter sought his response to New Delhi’s claim that the US continues to trade with Moscow while threatening other countries with increased tariffs for importing oil from Russia.
“I'd have to check, but we'll get back to you on that," Trump said.
India on Monday claimed that the US continues to import from Russia uranium hexafluoride for its nuclear industry, palladium for its EV industry, fertilisers, as well as chemicals.
The Ministry of External Affairs’ statement came after Trump announced a 25 per cent tariff on Indian imports and further warned of punitive tariffs for importing oil from Russia.
Accusing the US and European Union of targeting India, the MEA claimed New Delhi began importing from Russia because traditional supplies were diverted to Europe after the outbreak of the Ukraine conflict.
It further alleged that, while blaming India, both the US and EU continued their trade with Moscow.
The Europe-Russia trade includes not just energy, but also fertilisers, mining products, chemicals, iron and steel and machinery and transport equipment, it said.
Trump had alleged that India buys a massive amount of Russian oil and sells much of it on the open market for big profits. “They don't care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine. Because of this, I will be substantially raising the Tariff paid by India to the USA,” he wrote on his social media page on Monday.
The MEA, however, clarified in its response that India’s imports are meant to ensure predictable and affordable energy costs to the Indian consumer.
"Like any major economy, India will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security," it said.