Trump Says India Trade Deal Remains Intact After Tariff Setback, Repeats Claims on Russia Oil and Pakistan !
Prime Vista News
Washington, DC:
US President Donald Trump has reiterated that his administration’s trade arrangement with India remains unchanged despite a landmark US Supreme Court ruling that struck down several sweeping tariffs imposed last year. While praising his relationship with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Trump again claimed that India had previously taken advantage of the United States on trade and asserted—without independent confirmation that New Delhi reduced its purchases of Russian oil at his request.
Responding to questions on how the Supreme Court decision would affect ties with India, Trump said there would be “no change” to the existing trade framework.
“Nothing changes,” Trump said. “They’ll be paying tariffs, and we will not be paying tariffs. The deal with India is that they pay tariffs. This is a reversal of what it used to be.”
‘Fair Deal Now,’ Says Trump
Trump described Prime Minister Modi as a “great man” and a “great gentleman,” but also repeated his long-standing claim that India had benefited disproportionately in earlier trade arrangements with Washington.
“As you know, India and I think Prime Minister Modi is a great man was much smarter than the people he was against in terms of the United States. He was ripping us off,” Trump said. “So we made a deal with India. It’s a fair deal now. We are not paying tariffs to them, and they are paying tariffs. We did a little flip.”
Trump did not provide details on the specific provisions of the trade deal or clarify whether it refers to a formal agreement or an interim framework. Officials in New Delhi have not publicly commented on Trump’s characterisation of tariff obligations.
India’s Position on Russian Oil Imports
Trump also claimed that India had significantly reduced its imports of Russian oil following a request from Washington, linking the alleged move to efforts to bring an end to the war in Ukraine.
“India pulled out of Russia. India was getting its oil from Russia, and they pulled way back at my request,” Trump said. “We want to settle that horrible war where 25,000 people are dying every month.”
However, the Indian government has neither confirmed nor denied any reduction in Russian oil imports. Indian officials have consistently maintained that New Delhi’s energy purchases are guided by national interest and supply diversification, and that India continues to source energy from multiple global suppliers.
Claims on India-Pakistan De-escalation Disputed
Trump once again claimed that he played a decisive role in ending last year’s military confrontation between India and Pakistan, asserting that he used tariff threats to pressure both sides into de-escalation.
The confrontation ended on May 10, 2025, following what both countries described as a “ceasefire understanding.” Before a formal announcement by either government, Trump posted on social media claiming that he had “stopped the war.”
Indian officials have repeatedly rejected any third-party role in the ceasefire process, stating that Pakistan’s Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) initiated contact with New Delhi to seek a truce. India has maintained that the understanding was reached bilaterally through established military channels.
Supreme Court Strikes Down Sweeping Tariffs
Trump’s remarks came days after the US Supreme Court delivered a major setback to his trade policy by striking down many of the broad tariffs imposed under his administration. The ruling invalidated several measures that had been central to Trump’s economic agenda.
The president reacted sharply to the judgment, criticizing the court and claiming without evidence that foreign interests may have influenced the decision. Notably, two of the judges who ruled against the tariffs had been appointed by Trump himself.
During the court proceedings, the Trump administration had indicated that businesses could be entitled to refunds if the tariffs were declared unlawful. However, the Supreme Court’s ruling did not address the issue of reimbursements.
Earlier Coverage : India to Explore Joint Anti-Ballistic Missile Defence With Israel Ahead of PM Modi Visit
Temporary Tariffs and Fresh Probes Announced
Following the court decision, Trump announced a temporary 10 per cent global import duty for a period of 150 days. He also ordered fresh investigations under alternative legal authorities that could potentially allow the reintroduction of tariffs in a different form.
Trade analysts say the moves reflect an effort to preserve leverage in ongoing and future negotiations while navigating legal constraints imposed by the ruling.
Uncertainty Ahead for Trade Relations
Despite Trump’s assurances that the India trade deal remains unaffected, experts note that trade relations between the two countries are influenced by multiple factors, including legal rulings, domestic policy considerations, and ongoing negotiations.
Indian officials have not issued a formal response to Trump’s latest statements. For now, New Delhi appears to be maintaining its long-standing position of strategic autonomy in trade and energy policy, even as it continues to engage with Washington across economic and geopolitical domains.
