White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Tuesday (local time) claimed that India has committed to ending its purchases of Russian oil and will instead source crude from the United States, potentially from Venezuela under the newly announced trade agreement between the two countries
The deal involves reducing reciprocal tariffs from 25% to 18% and eliminating the additional 25% duty on Russian oil imports into India. India has also agreed to increase imports from the US by $500 billion, covering sectors like energy, technology, agriculture, and defence.
Congress MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla on Tuesday criticised the government's trade deal with the US, stating that India has "become nothing but a market," after a trade deal with the United States led to reports that India could abandon Russian oil procurement.
Congress MP Karti Chidambaram on Tuesday criticised the India-US trade deal, saying it undermines India's sovereignty as the US appears to be deciding India's trade and oil partners, and called for a relationship based on mutual trust and respect.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi on Tuesday flagged concerns over the India-US trade deal as Washington claimed that the agreement will help them export more agricultural products to New Delhi and that India will stop purchasing oil from Russia.
During his US visit for the Critical Minerals Ministerial, EAM Jaishankar welcomed the India-US trade deal that cuts tariffs on Indian goods to 18%. PM Modi and President Trump agreed to boost bilateral trade, increase US purchases, diversify from Russian oil, and strengthen ties.
Congress on Tuesday demanded the complete details of the India-US trade deal, raising questions over several key aspects such as the opening of the agriculture sector, the reduction of tariffs to "zero" and a pause on the purchase of Russian oil, as claimed by US President Donald Trump.
Following President Donald Trump's announcement of a US-India trade deal cutting tariffs to 18%, Partner Asia Group Nisha Biswal Nisha Biswal highlighted deeper cooperation, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the move amid India's expanding engagement with Western partners.
Congress MP Manish Tiwari on Tuesday questioned whether New Delhi has sacrificed its strategic autonomy to seal the trade deal with Washington, which would require India to divert its oil purchases from Russia to the US and "potentially" to Venezuela.
US International Development Finance Corporation Deputy CEO Nisha Biswal flagged pending implementation details in the US-India trade deal, as President Donald Trump announced tariff cuts to 18% and Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed stronger economic cooperation.
US Senator Lindsey Graham on Monday (local time) claimed that India has "earned" the reduction in tariffs under the newly announced India-US trade deal, linking the move to the decrease in Russian oil purchases by New Delhi amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.