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Democrat and US Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove has slammed President Donald Trump for his tariffs on India, saying the consequence was the sacrifice of carefully woven trust between the two nations. "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.
Kamlager-Dove also blasted the Trump administration for taking an entire year to reach a trade deal consensus with India.
"Dragging on negotiation for over a year caused us a timely convening of the annual Quad Leaders Summit," she said.
The Quad Summit, which was scheduled to take place in Delhi, India, in 2025 could not be held after all, since Trump snubbed the event amid strained ties with the country. The Quad comprises India, the US, Japan and Australia.
Trump had imposed a whooping 50 per cent tariffs on India, one of the highest rates besides Brazil. This included a 50 per cent penalty for New Delhi's imports of Russian crude oil that Washington DC claimed was financing Moscow's war with Ukraine.
Last week, Trump announced a trade deal with India, under which the 25 per cent reciprocal tariffs on New Delhi was slashed to 18 per cent. Additionally, the 25 per cent penalty for Russian oil imports was done away with. The Trump administration alleged that India has agreed to stop buying Russian oil and will consider purchasing Venezuelan oil. While India has remained mum on Trump's claim that New Delhi has stopped buying Russian crude oil, it has not given a clear answer on whether it will start buying Venezuelan oil.
"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 press briefing last week.
Meanwhile, Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove has slammed the Trump administration earlier as well. In December 2025, she issued a pointed warning to the 79-year-old, asking if he would become the President "who lost India" as she accused him of straining one of America's most important 21st-century partnerships through visa fees, tariffs and political grievances.
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Published On:
Feb 12, 2026
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