Indian envoy sought tariff relief citing drop in Russian oil imports, claims US Senator
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Washington: US Senator Lindsey Graham has claimed that India’s Ambassador to the United States, personally appealed for relief from American tariffs, arguing that New Delhi has already scaled back its purchase of Russian crude oil.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday alongside President Donald Trump, Graham recounted a meeting at the Indian envoy's residence last month. He stated that the conversation was dominated by India's concerns over the punitive economic measures.
"I was at the Indian ambassador’s house about a month ago and all he wanted to talk about is how they’re buying less Russian oil," Graham said. And he asked me to tell the President to relieve the 25 per cent tariff.
The revelation comes as President Trump continues to link trade penalties directly to India’s energy ties with Moscow. Speaking during the same interaction, Trump reiterated his dissatisfaction with New Delhi's stance, despite his warm personal equation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
"Prime Minister [Narendra] Modi’s a very good man. He’s a good guy. He knew I was not happy. It was important to make me happy," Trump said. He issued a stark warning regarding the trade balance: "They do trade, and we can raise tariffs on them very quickly."
The Trump administration has imposed a 25 per cent reciprocal tariff on Indian goods, with an additional penalty specifically targeting countries that fund Russia's "war machine" through energy purchases. The cumulative duties in some sectors have reportedly reached 50 per cent.
While India has consistently defended its oil imports as a necessity for domestic energy security and global market stability, Graham's comments suggest that Indian diplomats are actively using reduced import figures as a bargaining chip to negotiate economic relief.
The Opposition in India has seized on the development, criticising the central government for what they termed a "silent submission" to American pressure.