New Delhi: Did Donald Trump actually put a ‘no Russian oil’ condition in the India-US trade deal?
“He (Narendra Modi) agreed to stop buying Russian Oil, and to buy much more from the United States and, potentially, Venezuela. This will help END THE WAR in Ukraine, which is taking place right now, with thousands of people dying each and every week!” the US President wrote on Truth Social a week ago after calling the Indian Prime Minister to finalise the trade deal.
On Sunday, Union Commerce minister Piyush Goyal was again asked about the trade deal framework with the US.
Goyal avoided a direct answer on whether India will stop buying Russian oil to avoid the additional 25% tariffs which Trump has withdrawn.
However, Goyal did say, “The buying of crude oil or LNG, LPG from the US is in India’s own strategic interests as we diversify our oil sources.”
In an interview with ANI, Goyal was asked if there is a lack of bilateral consensus on Russian oil or on defence matters, doesn’t that impact the trade deal too?
“No, not at all,” Goyal replied, adding that the deal won’t discuss who will buy what and from where.
“The trade deal ensures that the pathway to trade is smooth, ensures preferential access. FTAs (free trade agreements) are all about preferential access… When we’ve got an 18% reciprocal tariff, we have a preference over other developing nations who are usually our competition,” Goyal said.
Clarity on purchasing Russian oil remains as Trump stated in his executive order – through which he removed 25% ‘penalty’ tariffs on India — that the US Commerce secretary should track if India “resumes” such oil imports.
According to strategic affairs expert Brahma Chellaney, this “monitoring mandate” on Indian oil purchases is the “real sting” in Trump’s order.
“It formally tasks the commerce secretary with tracking Indian oil imports and creates a clear trigger: a finding that India has resumed ‘directly or indirectly’ importing Russian oil could snap the 25% punitive tariff back into place,” Chellaney wrote on X.
