US President Donald Trump on Friday said that his decision to impose 50% tariffs on India for purchasing Russian oil is a "big deal" and admitted that it "caused a rift" between the two nations.
While speaking on Fox & Friends, Trump stated that the tariff move was not taken lightly; however, it was necessary to send a message. He said, "Look, India was their biggest customer. I put a 50% tariff on India because they are buying oil from Russia. That's not an easy thing to do. That's a big deal, and it causes a rift with India."
The Trump administration has made "trade" a key factor of its recent foreign policy, which the US President claims has "stopped wars" and can even counter Moscow. He also asserted that he had already taken significant steps against Russia. He said, "I have already done it. I have done a lot", adding, "Remember, this is a European problem, much more than our problem."
Reiterating his claim of ending global conflicts in his presidency tenure, including the recent India-Pakistan conflict, during the interview, Trump said, "I solved seven wars. I did so many, including Pakistan and India, but big ones, some were unsolvable, such as Congo and Rwanda. I solved it. It was going on for 31 years, and millions of people were killed. I solved unsolvable wars."
US had imposed 25% tariffs on India on August 7, followed by an additional penalty of 25% tariffs, calling it a punishment for New Delhi's continuous purchase of Russian oil. India responded, saying that the penalty was "unjustified and unreasonable" and a targeted strategy against India.
Recently, Sergio Gor, Washington's ambassador-designate to New Delhi, stated that India's protectionist policies created obstacles between the two nations, but also emphasised that the US-India partnership was strong. He said that Trump had a "deep friendship" with PM Modi.
He also hinted that a trade deal would be close, explaining, "We are not that far apart right now on a deal. In fact, they are negotiating on the nitty-gritty of a deal."
