US Congresswoman slams Trump over India tariffs, says ‘year-long talks cost us the Quad summit’

Row over India trade deal deepens as US Congresswoman says ‘Year-long talks cost us the Quad summit’

• Kamlager-Dove criticises Trump's tariffs, saying they damaged US-India trust
• Trump reduced tariffs after India agreed to stop buying Russian oil
• India hasn't confirmed stopping Russian oil imports, open to other sources

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Democratic Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove has criticised US President Donald Trump over steep tariffs imposed on India, warning that the measures undermined years of carefully built bilateral trust.

"50 per cent tariffs on India, one of the highest rates in the world, tore a needless rupture in bilateral ties that sacrificed decades of painstaking trust building between our two countries," she said.

Trump had imposed a sweeping 50 per cent tariff on Indian imports, including a penalty linked to New Delhi’s purchases of Russian crude oil, which Washington claimed was financing Moscow’s war in Ukraine.

Last week, however, Trump announced a trade deal with India under which the 25 per cent reciprocal tariff was reduced to 18 per cent, and the 25 per cent penalty tied to Russian oil imports was removed. The administration has claimed that India agreed to stop purchasing Russian crude and may consider sourcing oil from Venezuela instead.

The move strained ties between the two countries and coincided with the cancellation of the Quad Leaders Summit that had been scheduled to take place in New Delhi in 2025. The Quad comprises India, the United States, Japan and Australia.

Kamlager-Dove had earlier questioned whether Trump would become the President “who lost India,” accusing him of weakening one of America’s most significant 21st-century partnerships through tariffs, visa fee hikes and political grievances.

India has not publicly confirmed halting Russian oil imports. “Consistent with our approach to energy security, India remains open to exploring the commercial merits of any crude supply, including from Venezuela,” Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at a recent press briefing.

Meanwhile, Assistant Secretary S. Paul Kapur outlined the administration’s South Asia policy before Congress, emphasising expanded trade, defence cooperation, strategic investments and diplomacy. He described both India and Pakistan as important regional partners and reiterated Washington’s commitment to a “free and open” South Asia.