• Source:JND
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Hours after the USA's steep 50 percent tariffs on Indian goods entering America took effect, White House trade advisor Peter Navarro issued a provocative statement, labeling the Russia-Ukraine conflict as “Modi’s war.” Speaking to Bloomberg TV on Wednesday, Navarro said the Trump administration aimed to intensify pressure on India to end purchases of Russian energy, but India refused.

Modi's war: White House trade advisor 

“I mean Modi’s war because the road to peace runs, in part, through New Delhi,” Navarro said on Bloomberg Television’s Balance of Power.

“Everybody in America loses because of what India is doing. The consumers and businesses and everything lose, and workers lose because India’s high tariffs cost us jobs, and factories, and income and higher wages. And then the taxpayers lose because we got to fund Modi’s war,” he added.

Act like world's largest democracy: Navarro

The advisor, who linked the Russia-Ukraine war with PM Narendra Modi, called Indians the most “arrogant” when it comes to buying Russian oil. “What’s troubling to me is that the Indians are so arrogant about this. They say, ‘Oh, we don’t have higher tariffs. Oh, it’s our sovereignty. We can buy oil from anyone we want,” he said.

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He suggested that India should act like the biggest democracy in the world. However, he did not mention China, which is still the largest importer of Russian oil, and isn’t facing any tariff burnt, like India.“India, you’re the biggest democracy in the world, OK, act like one,” Navarro added.
Trump’s 50 per cent tariff on India

The US is the largest trading partner of India from 2021-22. In 2024-25, the bilateral trade in goods stood at USD 131.8 billion (USD 86.5 billion exports and USD 45.3 billion imports). Both countries are negotiating a trade deal for the past 4-5 months. However, it is still not finalised.
Despite the ongoing talks, Trump imposed steep 50 per cent tariff on Indian goods entering the United States.

The new tatiff came into effect from August 27, which would impact exports worth more than USD 48 billion. The sectors that would bear the brunt of the high import duties imposed by the Trump administration include textiles/ clothing, gems and jewellery, shrimp, leather and footwear, animal products, chemicals, and electrical and mechanical machinery.

ALSO READ: Trump’s 50% Tariffs Hit India: Which Export Sectors Face Heavy Losses And Which Remain Unaffected

(With inputs from agencies)