KHUSHI KUMARI
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Navarro has held key roles such as Senior Counselor for Trade and Manufacturing and led the Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy, shaping U.S. protectionist trade strategies
Often dubbed “Trump’s tariff guru,” Navarro championed tariffs on China, Canada, Mexico and continues pushing the reciprocal tariff policy in Trump’s second term
In a Financial Times opinion piece, Navarro slammed India’s purchase of discounted Russian oil, calling it an “opportunistic, corrosive” move that undermines efforts to isolate Russia’s war economy
Navarro didn’t mince words—he deemed India a “laundromat for the Kremlin,” accused it of running a “refining profiteering scheme,” and warned that such actions weaken peace and strategic ties
As a result of these tensions, the U.S. doubled tariffs on Indian goods—from 25% to a staggering 50%, undercutting bilateral trade and prompting diplomatic friction
Navarro’s hardline stance has intensified the 2025 U.S.–India diplomatic and trade crisis, pushing India closer to China while raising questions about the future of U.S. diplomacy