‘We’ll Crush Your Economy’, US Senator Threatens India

Amidst the ongoing trade talks between India and the US, the latter threatened to increase the tariffs heavily if India continued to do business with Russia.

Senators Lindsey Graham and Richard Blumenthal warned countries, including India, of economic sanctions to the tune of 500 per cent tariffs, if they continued to do trade with Russia. “If you [INDIA, CHINA, and BRAZIL] keep buying cheap Russian oil… we’re going to tariff the hell out of you,” said Lindsey Graham. “And we’re going to crush your economy, because what you are doing is blood money’ he added.

At the same time, US President Donald Trump had called for imposing 100 per cent secondary tariffs on Moscow, if Russia President Vladimir Putin fails to end war with Ukraine in the next 50 days.

According to the US, apart from India, China, Brazil and other nations are encouraging Russia’s war with Ukraine by buying cheap Russian oil and gas. The proceeds of selling oil and gas to these nations is getting into the conflict with Ukraine. In a bid to put an end to the war, Trump’s government is threateneing to impose tariffs of 500 pre cent on any country helping Russia. The Senators’ statement said that the 500 per cent tariff and 100 per cent secondary tariff on Russia is to end the war and bring Putin to the peace table. Reportedly, US President Donald Trump during his meeting with the NATO chief said that he was very unhappy with Russia.

Responding to the threat from the US, External Affairs minister S Jaishankar said that earlier this month that the Indian embassy and ambassador have been in touch with Senator Graham regarding the bill on Russia and that India will have to cross the bridge if it comes to it.