Trump Threatens Higher Tariffs on India Over Russian Oil Purchases

Former President Donald Trump warned he could quickly raise tariffs on India, tying trade pressure to New Delhi's energy purchases from Russia and framing the issue in personal terms.

“Published on:January 5, 2026 2:40 PM US President Donald Trump on Sunday warned that the United States could impose higher tariffs on India if the country does not curb its purchases of Russian oil”

Daily Times

Reports quote Trump saying it was important to 'make me happy' and that Modi 'knows Trump is displeased,' even as he also called Prime Minister Narendra Modi 'a very good man.'

Daily Times

The warning arrived amid renewed U.S.–India engagement, including a recent phone call between Trump and Modi and new bilateral trade talks aimed at resolving long-standing trade deadlocks.

U.S. officials and commentators tied potential tariff escalation to India's purchases of discounted Russian crude.

Washington is pressing New Delhi to curb those imports as part of broader energy and trade leverage.

Deccan Chronicle

Some reports say the U.S. has already taken punitive tariff steps, with Deccan Chronicle noting a prior 50% tariff imposed in August partly linked to Russian oil imports.

Other sources describe ongoing negotiations and requests for greater transparency, such as refiners being asked to report weekly Russian and U.S. crude volumes.

The tariff rhetoric is set against a renewed focus on global oil geopolitics.

“Washington, DC:US President Donald Trump has held out a fresh warning to India over raising tariffs if continued imports of Russian oil, saying Prime Minister Narendra Modi was aware of his displeasure on the issue”

Free Press Journal

Several sources underline Venezuela's massive proven reserves - over 300 billion barrels - and note that production has plunged to roughly 1 million barrels per day because of U.S. sanctions and long-term underinvestment.

These facts are used to illustrate why oil has returned to the center of geopolitics and to explain Washington's heightened attention to who is buying discounted Russian crude amid constrained global supply.

Observers note that trade negotiations continue even as tariff threats escalate.

Officials met and phone calls took place as New Delhi seeks a deal with Washington.

News India Times

Analysts expect India’s Russian crude imports to fall amid that bargaining.

Days before the tariff threat, Trump warned of duties on Indian rice after U.S. farmers complained about dumping.

The dispute has opened other trade fronts, underlining how agricultural grievances and energy politics are being fused into the bilateral negotiation dynamic.