India fuels Russia’s war chest and remains protectionist with sky-high tariffs: Navarro

Washington: White House Trade Advisor Peter Navarro has ramped up his criticism of India, asserting that the U.S. does not require “unfair trade” with New Delhi, while India is “desperately” seeking access to American markets.

Navarro’s remarks follow a series of recent criticisms aimed at India, particularly over its continued purchase of Russian crude oil.

His comments came on the same day that U.S. President Donald Trump announced that trade negotiations between the two countries are ongoing to address existing barriers.

Trump, in a post on social media, said he was looking forward to speaking to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the upcoming weeks. "I feel certain that there will be no difficulty in coming to a successful conclusion for both of our Great Countries!"

However, Navarro, in a series of posts on 'X', hit out at India.

"The US doesn't need unfair trade with India. But India desperately needs access to US markets and schools and intends to continue taking U.S. jobs," he said.

The Trump administration official also repeated his previous allegations that India is fuelling Russia's war machinery.

"India fuels Russia's war chest. India is protectionist, with sky-high tariffs. The US runs a massive trade deficit with India," he said

Navarro also claimed that "India's sky-high tariffs" are costing the US its jobs.

"India buys Russian oil purely to profit. Those revenues fuel Putin's war machine," he alleged.

The relations between New Delhi and Washington witnessed a major downturn after Trump doubled tariffs on Indian goods to a whopping 50 per cent, including a 25 per cent additional duty for India's purchase of Russian crude oil.

India described the US action as "unfair, unjustified and unreasonable". PTI