‘Modi Knew I Wasn’t Happy’: Trump Warns India of More Tariffs

US President Donald Trump made some interesting remarks about Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One en route Washington DC from Florida on Sunday, Trump said Modi knew that he was not happy with India purchasing Russian oil. He threatened that  Washington is likely to raise tariffs on New Delhi very quickly over its continued imports of Russian oil.

Trump said: “They wanted to make me happy, basically. Modi is a very good man; he is a good guy. He knew I was not happy, and it was important to make me happy. They do trade and we can raise tariffs on them very quickly. It would be very bad for them,” Trump said.

Trump made these remarks after US senator Lindsey Graham, who was accompanying him on Air Force One, said that the tariffs imposed by Trump were the major reason behind India substantially cutting down on Russian oil imports.

Graham said that to end Russia-Ukraine conflict, pressure must be mounted on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s customers. The tariff bill seeks to impose 500 per cent levies on imports from nations purchasing Russian oil, Graham said.

It is worth reminding that Trump’s threat comes weeks after he had a conversation on phone with PM Modi, during which they underscored the need to put in efforts to enhance bilateral trade. A few days before the call, Trump threatened to impose fresh tariff on Indian rice after a farmer representative complained of dumping by India, China and Thailand.

Trump’s threats come at a time when the India-US talks to resolve the tariff impasse have stalled.