The Trump administration's decision to impose a 50% tariff on Indian imports in response to the country's continued purchase of Russian oil has sparked fierce criticism from Democrats, who argue the move is misguided and will not effectively deter Russia or end the war in Ukraine. The tariffs, which went into effect on Wednesday, risk inflicting significant damage on the Indian economy and further disrupting global supply chains.
The move has been framed as retaliation for New Delhi's increasing imports of discounted Russian crude. The White House argues that India's purchases indirectly fund Russia's war against Ukraine. However, Democrats have countered that targeting India with tariffs is not the way to address Russia's actions.
Representative Gregory Meeks, a Democrat and Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, has criticized Trump's "latest tariff tantrum" on India, saying it risks years of work to build a stronger US-India partnership. Meeks stated that the U.S. has deep strategic, economic, and people-to-people ties with India, and trade concerns should be addressed in a mutually respectful way consistent with democratic values. The House Foreign Affairs Committee Democrats wrote in a post that "Tariffing India won't stop Putin...If Trump really wanted to address Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine, maybe punish Putin and give Ukraine the military aid it needs".
The decision has also been criticized for its potential impact on the Indian economy. India exported more than $87 billion worth of goods to the U.S. in 2024, and the Indian government estimates the tariffs will impact more than $48 billion worth of exports. Indian officials warn that the new duties could make exports to the U.S. commercially unviable, leading to job losses and slower economic growth. Goldman Sachs's chief India economist, Santanu Sengupta, warned that sustained 50% levies could push gross domestic product (GDP) growth below 6%, from a forecast level of around 6.5%.
Moreover, critics have pointed out the seeming inconsistency in the Trump administration's approach, as China is also a major purchaser of Russian oil but may be tariffed less than India. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has called Washington's demand that New Delhi stop buying Russian crude "unjustified and unreasonable" and accused the West of hypocrisy, noting that Europe trades far more with Russia.
Trump's administration has accused India of exploiting the war in Ukraine through Russian oil purchases. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that India is "profiteering" by "buying cheap Russian oil, reselling it as product". Trump himself has expressed his disregard for India's economic situation, saying, "I don't care what India does with Russia...They can take their dead economies down together, for all I care".
The tariffs come as the Trump administration pushes for greater access to India's agriculture and dairy sectors, amid Indian resistance to opening the sectors to cheaper U.S. imports. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said India should not yield to the pressure, stating, "For me, the interests of farmers, small businesses and dairy are topmost. My government will ensure they aren't impacted". He has also urged Indians to buy local, saying, "All of us should follow the mantra of buying only 'made in India' goods...Pressure on us may increase [from the tariffs], but we will bear it".
