Trump trade adviser Peter Navarro, a former economics professor, was key in driving US retaliatory tariffs on trading partners.
White House trade adviser Peter Navarro sharply criticised India for purchasing Russian energy and defence equipment, pledging to “hit India where it hurts” in order to change New Delhi’s policy. In an opinion piece for the Financial Times, Navarro termed India’s oil trade with Russia “opportunistic” and “corrosive” to global efforts being made to isolate the Russian economy.
A former economics professor who emerged as a major trade adviser to US President Donald Trump in his first administration, Navarro is seen a major force behind the US’s retaliatory tariffs on trading partners. In his article, Navarro sought to link what he termed as India’s “high” tariffs and “financial support” for Russia’s war in Ukraine, saying India was using dollars earned from trade with America to buy Russian oil.
“As Russia continues to hammer Ukraine, helped by India’s financial support, American (and European) taxpayers are then forced to spend tens of billions more to help Ukraine’s defence. Meanwhile, India keeps slamming the door on American exports through high tariffs and trade barriers. More than 300,000 soldiers and civilians have been killed, while Nato’s eastern flank grows more exposed and the west foots the bill for India’s oil laundering,” wrote Navarro.
In negotiations with the US for a Free Trade Agreement, India has refused to budge on protections for its agriculture, dairy and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) sectors from unfettered American imports.
Trump on July 30 announced punitive tariffs of 25% on Indian goods shipped to America. He subsequently added another 25% levy, which is scheduled to come into effect next week, for purchasing Russian oil. India’s foreign ministry has termed the tariffs as “unreasonable” and “extremely unfortunate”.
Navarro also attacked Indian refiners for “profiteering” by purchasing Russian discounted oil and exporting the processed petroleum products to Europe, Africa and Asia, stating that the surge in crude oil imports from Russia after 2022 was not for meeting domestic consumption.
“The Biden administration largely looked the other way at this strategic and geopolitical madness. The Trump administration is confronting it,” Navarro said of Trump’s tariffs on India that have left the country’s exports to the US at a significant disadvantage with those from competing nations.
“This two-pronged policy will hit India where it hurts — its access to US markets — even as it seeks to cut off the financial lifeline it has extended to Russia’s war effort,” Navarro said. “If India wants to be treated as a strategic partner of the US, it needs to start acting like one.”
Navarro’s criticism marks the latest recrimination of India’s ties with Russia from a senior member of the Trump administration. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller have also taken issue with New Delhi’s relationship with Moscow.
