Piyush Goyal told a press briefing on Monday that New Delhi is examining the new U.S. tariff bill, which would empower President Trump to levy duties of up to 100% on goods from countries that continue buying Russian oil.
India has become the largest buyer of Russian crude after the war, with imports rising from 6.5 million barrels per day in 2020 to over 8 million today, while Gulf supplies fell by 30%.
The ministry will seek waivers under the bill’s provisions and coordinate with industry groups to shield suppliers, said spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, who added that India would keep the trade relationship balanced.
Russia’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov decried the measure as “unfriendly” and warned it could undermine peace talks, while Beijing’s foreign ministry mocked the U.S. tariffs as “long‑arm jurisdiction.”
India and the United States are still negotiating a comprehensive trade framework; the tariff bill adds a new hurdle that will be addressed at the next bilateral trade talks scheduled for early October.