A day after U.S. President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order slapping an additional 25% tariff on Indian imports, Indian lawmaker Ashok Kumar Mittal pushed back hard, calling the move “illogical” and rooted in double standards.
Mittal, a member of Parliament from the Aam Aadmi Party, defended India’s ongoing oil purchases from Russia and dismissed U.S. criticism.
“Yes, we are purchasing oil from Russia. Who is he to stop us?” Mittal said Wednesday. “He himself is purchasing uranium, certain critical metals from Russia. His allies—European countries—are purchasing oil from Russia. China is purchasing oil from Russia. You can’t have double standards.”
The White House order, signed by Trump on Wednesday, cited national security concerns stemming from India’s imports of Russian oil. The move raises the total tariff on Indian goods entering the U.S. to 50%. The base duty takes effect August 7, while the added 25% applies three weeks later, barring certain exemptions.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) responded sharply, calling the action “unfair, unjustified and unreasonable.” In a statement, the ministry said India’s oil trade decisions are based on market conditions and energy security needs for its 1.4 billion citizens.
“It is extremely unfortunate that the U.S. should choose to impose additional tariffs on India for actions that several other countries are also taking in their own national interest,” the MEA said.
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Mittal echoed this view. He said the Indian economy might take a short-term hit, but insisted the country’s businesses were resilient.
“The US has imposed a 50% total tariff on Indian products. Of course, this will hurt… but our entrepreneurs are competent. They will find alternative ways to sell the products,” he said.
He argued that the situation could push India to expand its domestic consumption or discover new global markets. “We are 1.4 billion people. We may increase our internal demand. It may even open up new opportunities,” he added.
Mittal predicted that the impact on India’s GDP would be minimal, estimating a reduction of just 0.2%. “We will easily absorb this deficiency and find other ways,” he said.
The Executive Order allows for changes if other countries retaliate or if conditions between India and Russia shift. But for now, both sides seem locked into a growing trade and political standoff.
