India has warned the U.S. that new measures to impose tariffs on the purchase of Russian oil could negatively impact bilateral relations. This was reported by the local Ministry of External Affairs, according to Reuters. The statement from New Delhi came after the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill imposing broad sanctions and tariffs aimed at increasing economic pressure on Russia due to its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The bill, which is currently awaiting the signature of U.S. President Donald Trump, grants him the authority to impose strict tariffs of up to 100% on China, India, and other countries in order to reduce their dependence on Russian energy resources. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs stated that New Delhi will continue to procure resources from various suppliers based on market conditions and will take all necessary measures to protect its trade and economic interests. ## ## India’s Dependence on Russian Oil India is the third-largest oil importer in the world and one of the largest buyers of oil from Russia. New Delhi has repeatedly resisted calls to reduce oil trade volumes with Russia, emphasizing that the country’s large population and economy require safe, affordable, and reliable energy supplies. According to sources, Indian oil refining companies have already signed contracts for oil supplies in September and October, including Russian oil. Local refiners state that oil prices will sharply rise if Trump decides to impose new tariffs. Analysts believe that the likelihood of new U.S. tariffs on Indian exports could complicate ongoing trade negotiations between India and the U.S. Tariffs could also potentially delay the conclusion of a trade agreement or push New Delhi to sign a highly unequal deal. Supplies from Russia accounted for more than half of India's oil imports. Earlier in January, Indian refiners began to reduce imports of Russian oil to avoid heightened U.S. tariffs while New Delhi was negotiating a trade agreement with Washington. At the same time, disruptions in oil supplies from the Middle East due to the war with Iran forced producers to continue purchasing Russian crude. In early September, Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar stated that the cessation of Russia's war against Ukraine does not depend on whether anyone buys Russian energy resources or not.
