Will US Slash India Tariffs If Russia-Ukraine War Ends? Shashi Tharoor Answers

Congress MP and Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs Chairperson Shashi Tharoor on Monday said that the US could remove the additional 25% tariff on India which was imposed over purchases of Russian oil, if the war between Russia and Ukraine ends.

Tharoor's remarks come ahead of the meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, scheduled in Alaska on Aug. 15. The meeting has raised expectations of a possible breakthrough.

"If after the meeting with Putin, there is a meeting with Ukraine, then the second 25% tariff imposed on us due to buying Russian oil will be removed, because it was in the context of the war (between Russia and Ukraine)," Tharoor said, while speaking to news agency ANI.

Trump, last week, announced additional 25% tariffs on India for purchasing Russian oil. This takes the cumulative tariff against the country to 50%.

Tharoor's panel was briefed by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Monday over the situation with the US. Misri stressed on the importance of New Delhi's ties with Washington, noting that trade was only one aspect of the relationship, Tharoor said.

On Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir's recent nuclear "blackmail", Tharoor said, "We are not going to surrender to nuclear blackmail. This gentleman has a habit of saying things to the Pakistan diaspora that are apparently intended to boost his position. India knows how to handle these things in the air and on the ground. I am not too worried."