Former diplomat Veena Sikri has expressed optimism that the extra tariffs threatened by the US on India might not materialise, following what she described as a constructive end result from the latest assembly between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska.
In an interview to information company ANI, Sikri steered that Trump might have raised the difficulty of tariffs on Russia’s oil gross sales to India, China, and the European Union throughout his discussions with Russian counterpart.
“From President Trump’s facet, I believe there may be some form of dialogue on this, positively with President Putin, and plainly an understanding has been reached that tariffs on Russia’s oil gross sales to China, India, and even the EU don’t have to be imposed.” Sikri mentioned.
“There would possibly even be a chance of commerce between Russia and America. So, there may be discuss of that… President Putin talked about it, saying, ‘Oh sure, we now have good commerce with the USA.’ I believe this situation of the extra tariff might not come up; perhaps it is going to be put in abeyance for some time,” she added.
Earlier than and after Alaska meet
Recalling the outlook for India tariffs earlier than the Alaska summit, she mentioned state of affairs appeared bleak as a result of prospect of steep duties. Sikri mentioned, “One among Trump’s senior ministers, Mr Bessant, had even mentioned that, if the assembly would not go effectively, then we might additional improve the tariffs on India.”
Sikri was referring to remarks by US treasury secretary Scott Bessent. He informed Bloomberg TV, “It’s put up or shut up time… We put secondary tariffs on the Indians for purchasing Russian oil. And I might see if issues don’t go effectively, then sanctions or secondary tariffs might go up.”
Nevertheless, the previous diplomat went on to say, “After the assembly, there are indications that, even the journalists have been asking President Trump, what about China? They’re shopping for a lot oil from Russia. So why aren’t you telling them, placing tariffs on them? So President Trump replied that he will look ahead to just a few weeks, and perhaps it might not be needed to place tariffs,” she mentioned.
President Trump, who met Putin in Alaska on Saturday, mentioned the talks “went rather well.” He additionally held follow-up discussions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, a number of European leaders, and the NATO Secretary Basic.
The summit adopted Donald Trump’s announcement of a 50 per cent tariff on India, together with a 25 per cent extra obligation linked to its buy of Russian oil.
