š„ Trumpās Trade Man Calls India āMaharaj of Tariffsā Over Russian Oil Drama š²š®š³
- MediaFx
- Aug 22
- 2 min read
TL;DR
Americaās ex-trade guru Peter NavarroĀ blasted India for buying cheap Russian oil, refining it, and selling it at high rates š¢š°. He called India a ālaundromat for the KremlināĀ and even said we are the āMaharaj of tariffs.āĀ Now the US has slapped 50% tariffsĀ on Indian goods š”. India hit back saying energy is survival for 140 crore people š«” and accused the US of hypocrisy. The tussle is heating up, with risks for India-US ties while Russia and China watch closely š.
š¢ļø Whatās the Fight All About?
So hereās the tea šµāNavarro says India is playing smart by buying discounted Russian oilĀ ā½, refining it, and exporting fuel at higher global prices š. He called it a āprofiteering schemeāĀ and claimed it helps Russia bypass Western sanctions š¬.
He didnāt stop there š¤. Navarro mocked India as the āMaharaj of tariffsāĀ š, saying our import taxes are so high that American companies struggle to sell here.
šø The Big Tariff Move
The Trump camp already had a 25% āreciprocal tariffāĀ on Indiaās products šØ. Now theyāve doubled down by adding another 25%Ā linked to our Russian oil imports. That means a crazy 50% import dutyĀ on Indian exports to the US from 27th August 2025Ā š±.
This is like a tax tsunami š hitting Indian businesses that rely on the American market.
š®š³ Indiaās Clapback
Our Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar wasnāt having any of it šŖ. He shot back that India is NOT the worldās biggest Russian oil buyerĀ š« and that Washington itself once encouraged us to import Russian oil to stabilize global energy markets š.
Indiaās stand is clear:
Energy security firstĀ ā” (we need affordable oil for 140 crore Indians).
Strategic autonomyĀ šļø (weāll decide our policies, not take orders).
Unfair targetingĀ š¤ (why only us when Europe too buys Russian energy?).
š What This Means for the World
This clash could turn into a full-blown trade warĀ āļø. Experts warn India may now lean even more toward Russia and ChinaĀ š¤ if the US keeps playing tariff politics.
The Quad allianceĀ (India, US, Japan, Australia) might also feel the heat š„. If trust breaks, India may slow down its cooperation with US strategic goals in Asia.
š Quick Facts to Flex
Indiaās Russian oil imports rose from 1% in 2021Ā to 35% in 2024Ā ā¬ļø.
US tariffs on Indian goods now total 50%Ā š§¾.
India is worldās third-largest oil consumerĀ š.
š MediaFx Peopleās Take
See, at the end of the day, this isnāt just about big power politics š¤. Itās about ordinary people. Cheap fuel means cheaper transport š, affordable farming š, and less pressure on our already struggling working-class families šØāš©āš§āš¦.
If America slaps 50% tariffs, itās not Modi or Biden who will sufferāitās the workers, farmers, and small tradersĀ on both sides whoāll pay the price š.
Instead of bullying with sanctions, big nations should talk peace āļø and cooperate on clean energy š±. People deserve affordable fuel, not tariff wars š„.
