Jaishankar Pushes Back at US Tariff Pressure
NEW DELHI : External Affairs Minister (EAM) Dr. S. Jaishankar on Saturday, August 23, strongly defended India’s right to pursue independent trade and energy policies. Speaking at The Economic Times World Leaders Forum 2025, he criticised Washington’s decision to impose punitive tariffs of up to 50 percent on Indian goods.
The United States claims the move is a response to India’s continued purchase of Russian oil, which Washington argues undermines efforts to isolate Moscow over the Ukraine conflict. However, Jaishankar dismissed the criticism as unfair and inconsistent.
“It is funny to have people who work for a pro-business American administration accusing other people of doing business,” Jaishankar said. “If you have a problem with India buying oil or refined products from Russia, don’t buy from us. Nobody forces you. Europe buys, America buys, so if you don’t like it, don’t buy it.”
India–US Tariff Negotiations Still Ongoing
Despite the harsh rhetoric, Jaishankar clarified that trade negotiations between India and the US remain open. “Negotiations are still going on in the sense that nobody said they are off. People do talk to each other. It’s not like there is a kutti (fallout) there,” he remarked.
He stressed that India’s core red lines in trade talks are non-negotiable. “The red lines are primarily the interests of our farmers and, to some extent, our small producers. We as a government are committed to defending those interests. That is not something we can compromise on,” he added.
His statement highlights India’s determination to shield its agricultural and small-scale sectors, which form the backbone of its economy, from potential fallout of tariff escalations.
Trump’s Unorthodox Foreign Policy Approach
Jaishankar also reflected on the distinctive foreign policy style of US President Donald Trump. “We’ve not had a US President who has conducted foreign policy as publicly as the current one,” he noted.
According to him, using tariffs as tools for non-trade issues is unusual in global diplomacy. “The use of tariffs in this manner is novel. The fact that much of it is said in public, often with the first pronouncement made publicly, is also very unusual. This is the situation the entire world is facing,” he said.
Observers argue that this public and transactional approach to diplomacy has disrupted traditional alliances and complicated multilateral negotiations.
India–Russia Relations Remain Strong
Amid the tariff row, Jaishankar reaffirmed India’s long-standing ties with Russia. He confirmed that preparations were underway for the annual bilateral summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin later this year.
“Our trade has grown a bit and we would like to grow it further. There has been some mobility of people and we would like to see that increase. We want more market access in Russia,” Jaishankar said.
He stressed that despite global headwinds, the India–Russia partnership continues to expand in trade, energy, and defence.
Operation Sindoor and External Influence
Jaishankar also addressed questions about Operation Sindoor, India’s recent military operation in Pakistan. He revealed that several countries, including the US, had reached out during the operation. “Phone calls were made by the US, phone calls were made by other countries as well. This is not a secret. At least in my case, every American phone call I had is there on my ‘X’ account,” he said.
He dismissed suggestions that the ceasefire outcome was externally brokered. “It is quite different to assert a mediation or to suggest that an outcome negotiated between India and Pakistan was not actually negotiated between India and Pakistan. It was,” he clarified.
His remarks came after President Trump claimed to have played a direct role in brokering peace between New Delhi and Islamabad.
Outlook
Jaishankar’s firm words underline New Delhi’s resolve to maintain economic autonomy while balancing complex global relationships. With the US tightening trade pressure, India is determined to safeguard its agricultural and energy interests while deepening ties with Russia.
The outcome of ongoing tariff negotiations will likely shape the future trajectory of India–US relations in the coming months.