Peter Navarro, one of the main figures in US President Donald Trump’s ongoing tariff dispute, strongly defended Trump’s steep tariffs on India during a press briefing on Thursday. Launching a sharp attack on New Delhi, Navarro claimed India uses US dollars to buy oil from Russia, which then “uses those dollars from India to finance weapons to kill Ukrainians.”
“American taxpayers are being asked to pay for weapons to defend Ukraine from Russian weapons bought with US dollars from India,” Navarro said, arguing that this situation must end. “This has to stop. This math doesn’t work. The president understands the connection between economic and national security. So that was the crux of the matter.”
Reporters Challenge Navarro’s Selective Targeting
Several journalists questioned why Navarro did not criticise China, which purchases more Russian oil than India. In response, Navarro admitted that the US faces limits when dealing with Beijing. “We don’t want to hurt ourselves” with higher tariffs on China, he said. He added, “As the boss says, we’ll see what happens. Remember, we already have over 50 per cent tariffs on China, okay?” — leaving a small door open for possible talks.
Controversial Past and Strong Rhetoric
Navarro, a convicted felon known for fabricating quotes in his book from a fictional expert named “Ron Vara” (an anagram of his own name), is often described in Washington as Trump’s “trade whisperer” and a strong supporter of tariffs. While criticising India, he went further by alleging, “The US sends a lot of dollars to India to buy their goods on unfair trade terms… India then uses US dollars to buy Russian oil.”
An Indian trade analyst, speaking to The Times of India on condition of anonymity, rejected Navarro’s claim. The analyst stressed that India earns dollars through “legitimate exports, not charity” and also uses those dollars to purchase American products, including arms. The analyst also highlighted that the US is India’s largest trading partner, while Russia ranks fourth, and added, “Not to forget India buys Russian oil with a mix of currencies, including rupees.”
India Counters Tariff Justification
After Trump announced nearly 50% tariffs on Indian goods, New Delhi disputed his claim that India imposes some of the highest tariffs on US products. Officials pointed out that Trump has made similar accusations against other countries, including Canada. They also highlighted reductions in duties on several American exports. Despite this, the Trump administration has struggled to present a solid economic argument for the new tariffs on India.
