India Reportedly Refuses to Halt Russian Oil Imports Despite U.S. Tariff Threats

India has no plans to cut oil imports from Russia, despite warnings from U.S. President Donald Trump about possible sanctions and tariffs, Orda.kz reports.

The New York Times, citing two senior Indian officials, states that New Delhi has issued no instructions to oil companies to reduce Russian imports. On the contrary, Indian authorities reaffirmed their commitment to existing long-term contracts, stressing that “it’s impossible to stop purchases overnight.”

On July 14, Trump announced the U.S. would impose 100% tariffs on Russia’s trade partners if no peace deal on Ukraine was reached within 50 days. Just two weeks later, he cut that deadline to 10 days and on July 30 imposed 25% tariffs on India, partly over its trade with Russia.

Trump also warned of potential penalties or sanctions if India continues buying Russian energy, claiming he had heard India would stop — though he admitted, “I don’t know if that’s true.”

Amid the pressure, Reuters reported on July 31 that four Indian state-owned refineries had temporarily paused Russian oil purchases. However, by August 1, Indian media citing government sources said the country’s top refiners — Indian Oil (IOC), Bharat Petroleum (BPCL), and Hindustan Petroleum (HPCL) — were continuing imports from Russia.

Analysts suggest Trump’s threats may be part of a broader strategy to pressure India ahead of a potential new trade deal with Washington. It remains unclear what concrete steps the U.S. might take if India maintains its current import levels.

Original Author: Rustam Muratov