Navarro Escalates Criticism of India over Tariffs and Russian Oil

Lead White House trade adviser Peter Navarro on Monday condemned India’s “highest tariffs” and accused its refiners of profiteering from Russian crude just days before resumption of stalled India-US trade talks in New Delhi.

Nut Graf Navarro’s remarks underscore mounting friction in bilateral negotiations, with Washington demanding tariff cuts and energy realignments as New Delhi pushes back on opening key sectors and curbing Russian oil imports.

Sharp Tariff Rebuke

Navarro branded India the “maharaja of tariffs,” asserting that New Delhi imposes the steepest duties on U.S. goods among major economies. He warned that persistent non-tariff barriers threaten to derail progress unless India “comes to the table” on reducing protectionist measures.

Allegations of Russian Oil Profiteering

• Navarro charged Indian refiners with “getting in bed” with Russian suppliers immediately after Moscow’s 2022 Ukraine invasion.
• He argued that profits from discounted crude sales indirectly fuel Russia’s war machine, forcing American taxpayers to shoulder higher defence costs for Ukraine.
• “It’s crazy stuff, because they make money off of us in unfair trade. Then they use that money to buy Russian oil, and then the Russians use that to buy weapons,” he told CNBC.

Trade Talks Poised to Resume

India and the U.S. will “fast-track” their sixth round of bilateral trade negotiations in New Delhi on Tuesday, led by U.S. Trade Representative Brendan Lynch and India’s chief negotiator Rajesh Agrawal. Both sides aim to bridge gaps on agriculture, dairy and energy before year-end.