Why Is US Sparing China But Targeting India Over Russian Oil? Marco Rubio Says...

Last Updated:August 18, 2025, 12:10 IST

Relations between India and the US were strained after US President Donald Trump imposed 50% tariffs on India, including a 25% duty for purchasing Russian oil.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (Reuters Image)

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio acknowledged that the Trump administration spared China, which is the top oil buyer from Russia – from any secondary sanctions – while hitting India with 50% tariffs, including a 25% duty for crude purchases from Moscow.

Relations between India and the US were strained after US President Donald Trump imposed 50% tariffs on India, among the highest rates on any country, for purchasing Russian oil and called India’s economy “dead". India has pushed back against the tariffs, calling them unjust and unreasonable.

In an interview with Fox Business, Rubio noted that any additional sanctions on China could increase global energy prices and disrupt markets. He said that European nations had expressed displeasure when the US Senate proposed 100% tariffs on India and China for purchasing crude oil from Russia.

“If you put secondary sanctions on a country – let’s say you were to go after the oil sales of Russian oil to China. Well, China just refines that oil. That oil is then sold into the global marketplace, and anyone who’s buying that oil would be paying more for it or, if it doesn’t exist, would have to find an alternative source for it," he said.

US Hypocrisy Over Russian Oil

When asked if Europe was buying Russian oil, Rubio said, “Well, if you look at the oil that’s going to China and being refined, a lot of that is then being sold back into Europe. Europe’s also buying natural gas still. Now, there are countries trying to get – to wean themselves off of it, but there’s more Europe can do with regard to their own sanctions."

“Well, I don’t know about on Europe directly, obviously, but certainly there are implications to secondary sanctions," he further said when asked about the possibility of US sanctions on Europe, adding that he doesn’t want to get into a tit-for-tat with the Europeans on this matter.

This came days after Rubio expressed dissatisfaction about India-Russia ties and said that New Delhi buying cheap oil from Moscow “is a point of irritation" in the India-US relationship. “India is an ally and a strategic partner. Like anything in foreign policy, you are not gonna align 100% of the time on everything. India has huge energy needs, which include the ability to buy oil and coal, and gas and things they need to power its economy like every country does," he told Fox News.

ALSO READ: ‘India Buying Russian Oil A Point Of Irritation In Ties’: Rubio Backs Trump’s 25% Tariffs

Trump’s move to impose tariffs on India has sparked accusations of double standards, as critics pointed out that China was importing large volumes of Russian oil without facing similar punitive measures. Despite Trump’s threats, India has clarified that there has been no pause in Russian oil imports.

White House Adviser Warns India

White House trade adviser Peter Navarro said India’s purchases of Russian crude were funding Moscow’s war in Ukraine and had to stop, adding that New Delhi was “now cosying up to both Russia and China." In strong words, Navarro said if India wanted to be treated as a strategic partner of the US, it needed to act like one.

“India acts as a global clearinghouse for Russian oil, converting embargoed crude into high-value exports while giving Moscow the dollars it needs," Navarro said, while mentioning India’s efforts to strengthen ties with China against the backdrop of Trump’s unpredictable approach to both countries.

(with inputs from agencies)

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