Trump holds back his tariff threat on India ‘for now’ after Alaska summit with Putin

U.S. President Donald Trump signaled on Friday that he may hold off additional secondary tariffs on countries purchasing Russian crude oil — including India — offering a temporary reprieve amid heightened trade tensions between Washington and New Delhi.

The remarks followed Trump’s nearly three-hour meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, according to reports.

Earlier this month, Trump had slapped a steep 50% tariff on Indian goods in response to New Delhi’s continued imports of Russian oil, sparking outrage in India. The Ministry of External Affairs denounced the move as “unfair, unjust, and unreasonable,” noting that many other U.S. partners, including European states, also purchase Russian crude.

Speaking to Fox News after his talks with Putin, Trump said, “Well, because of what happened today, I think I don’t have to think about that now. I may have to think about it in two weeks or three weeks, but not right now. The meeting went very well.”

Trump later suggested aboard Air Force One that Russia had “lost an oil client” in India, which previously accounted for about 40% of its imports from Moscow. While he left ‘open’ the possibility of future measures, he acknowledged that immediate secondary tariffs might not be necessary.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi reinforced that stance in his Independence Day speech, vowing not to compromise on the interests of farmers, fishermen, and small businesses impacted by the tariffs, saying, “The farmer’s interest is our first priority. India will never compromise. I am prepared to pay the price personally, but India is prepared to protect its people.”

Trump’s tariff strategy has also drawn criticism at home. The Democratic-led House Foreign Affairs Committee argued that penalizing India does little to pressure Russia.

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