Nikki Haley, former US Ambassador to the United Nations, has criticised President Donald Trump for his remarks about significantly increasing tariffs on Russian oil imports from India, accusing him of giving “China a pass” and warning against damaging ties with “a strong ally like India”.
In a post on X, Haley said that China, a key adversary of the United States and “number one buyer of Russian and Iranian oil,” had been granted a 90-day tariff pause by the Trump administration.
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“India should not be buying oil from Russia. But China, an adversary and the number one buyer of Russian and Iranian oil, got a 90-day tariff pause. Don’t give China a pass and burn a relationship with a strong ally like India,” she said.
India should not be buying oil from Russia. But China, an adversary and the number one buyer of Russian and Iranian oil, got a 90-day tariff pause. Don’t give China a pass and burn a relationship with a strong ally like India.
— Nikki Haley (@NikkiHaley) August 5, 2025
On Tuesday, Trump stated that he would raise tariffs on Indian imports from the current 25% rate “very substantially” within 24 hours due to New Delhi’s continued purchase of Russian oil, according to Reuters.
“They’re fuelling the war machine, and if they’re going to do that, then I’m not going to be happy,” Trump told CNBC in an interview, as quoted by Reuters.
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According to the report, Trump added that the main issue with India was its high tariff rates, though he did not specify the new proposed rate. He alleged that a substantial portion of oil imported from Russia was being sold on the open market “for big profits”, adding that the United States would “substantially raise” the tariffs imposed on India for purchasing “massive amounts of Russian oil” as of Monday.
The remarks followed an earlier announcement by Trump on his social media platform, Truth Social, where he reiterated the move and added a yet-undisclosed penalty for India’s continued oil imports from Russia.
“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. Thank you for your attention to this matter!!!” the US President wrote.
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The United States and China had agreed in May to a 90-day tariff pause, during which US tariffs were reduced from 145% to 30%, and Chinese duties from 125% to 10%, according to an Al Jazeera report.
Soon after Trump’s remarks on Monday, the Indian government described the targeting of India as “unjustified and unreasonable”.
In a statement, the spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that India would take all necessary steps to protect its national interests and economic security.
The statement highlighted that India had been repeatedly targeted by the United States and the European Union for importing oil from Russia since the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine.
“In fact, India began importing from Russia because traditional supplies were diverted to Europe after the outbreak of the conflict. The United States at that time actively encouraged such imports by India for strengthening global energy markets stability. India’s imports are meant to ensure predictable