US Imports From Russia For Nuclear Industry: India’s Stern Reply To Trump’s ‘Targeted’ Tariff Threat

On the one hand he talks about peace and saving lives, on the other, Donald Trump continues to support fighting and war. The US President has time and again backed Israel despite devastating pictures of malnourished children floating all over the internet. He, however, accuses India of buying oil from Russia, and ignoring how many people are losing their lives in Ukraine.

After announcing a 25% tariff plus a penalty for oil trade with Russia, Trump has once again targeted India and threatened to raise the tariffs. “I will be substantially raising the Tariff paid by India to the USA,” he wrote on Truth Social, without specifying by how much he would raise the levy.

India chose to speak up in no time, calling the move unjustified and unreasonable.

How did India respond to Trump’s latest tariff threat?

Clearly stating that India has been targeted by the United States and the European Union for importing oil from Russia after the commencement of the Ukraine conflict, the Ministry of External Affairs said that New Delhi, in fact, began importing from Russia because traditional supplies were diverted to Europe after the outbreak of the conflict.

While the United States at that time actively encouraged such imports by India for strengthening global energy markets stability, it is now using it as a weapon to target. New Delhi has asserted that its oil imports from Moscow were aimed at global price stability to ensure oil prices remain affordable.

“India’s imports are meant to ensure predictable and affordable energy costs to the Indian consumer. They are a necessity compelled by global market situation. However, it is revealing that the very nations criticising India are themselves indulging in trade with Russia. Unlike our case, such trade is not even a vital national compulsion,” the statement from MEA added.

What about US’ imports from Russia?

Contrary to what Trump claims, India isn’t the only one that buys from Russia. The United States itself continues to import from Russia uranium hexafluoride for its nuclear industry, palladium for its EV industry, fertilizers as well as chemicals.

Interestingly, the US has imported $2091 million goods from Russia in 2025 so far and these imports have grown 23% YoY to $2.1 billion between January and May this year. The surge was led by sharp increases in imports of palladium (37%), uranium (28%), and fertilisers (21%), The Indian Express reported citing US International Trade Commission (USITC) data.

EU imports from Russia: How much trade was done?

Further, the European Union in 2024 had a bilateral trade of Euro 67.5 billion in goods with Russia. In addition, it had trade in services estimated at Euro 17.2 billion in 2023. This is significantly more than India’s total trade with Russia that year or subsequently. European imports of LNG in 2024, in fact, reached a record 16.5mn tonnes.

“Europe-Russia trade includes not just energy, but also fertilizers, mining products, chemicals, iron and steel and machinery and transport equipment,” India said in its statement.

What is Trump’s rationale behind increasing tariffs on India?

The US President is of the view that India is not only buying massive amounts of Russian Oil, they are then, for much of the Oil purchased, selling 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 posted on social media.

Responding to this, New Delhi said this targeting is unjustified and unreasonable. Like any major economy, India will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security.