The Democrats on the United States House Foreign Affairs panel have voiced strong criticism of the Donald Trump administration’s decision to impose heavy secondary sanctions on India. On Wednesday, the panel’s Democratic members accused the White House of unfairly targeting New Delhi with steep trade penalties while sparing other countries such as China, which imports far larger volumes of oil from Russia.

The sharp remarks were posted on social media platform X, where the Democrats said, “Instead of imposing sanctions on China or others purchasing larger amounts of Russian oil, Trump’s singling out India with tariffs, hurting Americans and sabotaging the US-India relationship in the process.” The post went on to add, “It’s almost like it’s not about Ukraine at all.”

Their reaction came just days after the new US tariffs on Indian exports came into effect. Washington has now imposed a total of 50 per cent duty on goods imported from India, the highest of any country in the world at present. Trump has defended the move as part of what his administration calls “aggressive economic leverage” to force Moscow to end its military activities in Ukraine.

Steep tariffs spark political debate in Washington

Three days before the tariff penalties on India were implemented, US Vice President J D Vance defended the controversial approach. He said the administration’s secondary sanctions, particularly the ones directed at India, were part of a broader attempt to cut funding sources for Russia’s war machine. According to Vance, the decision was not only aimed at discouraging India’s purchase of discounted Russian crude but also at sending a “tough signal” to Moscow.

However, this justification has not gone unchallenged. Democrats argue that the selective nature of the measures exposes double standards. China continues to be the largest buyer of Russian oil but has so far not faced similar penalties. Critics say this reflects political bias rather than a consistent foreign policy principle.

India, for its part, maintains that its oil imports are guided by national interest and the need to secure affordable energy supplies at a time of global price volatility. Officials in New Delhi have repeatedly stated that the country imports oil from a wide range of sources, and Russian crude makes up only a portion of the overall basket.

Strain in US-India relationship

The latest escalation comes at a time when Washington and New Delhi have been deepening cooperation in defence, technology, and strategic affairs, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region where the US aims to counter China’s growing influence. The punitive tariffs, however, cast a shadow over these efforts, raising fears of a setback in bilateral ties.

Trade experts say American consumers could also face higher prices because Indian products — from textiles to engineering goods — will now become costlier. At a political level, Democrats are worried that the move could undo years of progress in strengthening bonds with India, which is considered a vital partner in balancing global power equations.

While Trump and his allies argue that the tariffs are necessary to achieve results in Ukraine, Democrats have suggested that the punitive steps may have more to do with domestic political messaging than actual foreign policy goals. The phrase “not about Ukraine at all” indicates their suspicion that the Trump administration is targeting India for reasons beyond the stated justification.

Rising Concerns Over Global Trade Impact

Analysts warn that sustained tariffs at this scale could push India to turn more decisively towards other partners, including Russia and even China, for trade deals and energy cooperation. Such an outcome would be a strategic setback for Washington. For now, New Delhi is treading carefully, avoiding sharp responses while monitoring whether the situation escalates further.

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