US President Donald Trump admitted on Friday that his decision to impose a 50% tariff on India for buying Russian oil created a rift between the two nations.

"India was Russia's biggest customer, and I put a 50% tariff on India because of their oil purchases. That wasn't an easy decision," Trump said during a Fox News interview.

The tariffs sparked outrage in India, fueling anti-US sentiment. The move was part of the US's efforts to counter Russia's invasion of Ukraine by penalizing nations buying oil from Moscow under Western sanctions.

"That's a big deal. And it causes a rift with India," Trump added during the Fox & Friends program.

US-India relations have been tense since Trump’s trade war, particularly after trade talks collapsed over India's reluctance to open its agricultural and dairy sectors. Bilateral trade between the two countries exceeds $190 billion annually.

Trump first imposed a 25% tariff on Indian imports and later doubled it to 50% starting August 27. This was in response to India’s increasing oil purchases from Russia amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Trump indicated that negotiations with India on trade barriers are ongoing and he plans to speak with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, signaling a potential reset after recent tensions. Sergio Gor, Trump’s nominee for ambassador to India, expressed hope for progress during India's commerce minister's visit to Washington next week.

Gor downplayed the tariffs as a "little hiccup," adding that the US holds its allies to higher standards. He emphasized that aligning India with the US is a priority.

Trump also addressed his waning patience with Russian President Vladimir Putin, noting that while he previously had a good relationship with Putin, he was frustrated by the lack of progress in ending the war in Ukraine. Trump hinted that further sanctions and tariffs, including on banks and oil, were options but stressed that European nations must also participate.

Source: NDTV