Tariffs pose a risk to US-India relationship

President Donald Trump deals with a due date Sunday to choose whether to enforce specific charges on other nations under a bipartisan sanctions law he signed last month.

Any relocation by him to waive sanctions on Russian people or entities will be consulted with criticism, as would a choice not to enforce tariffs on China for purchasing Russian gas. Washington is hoping he’ll spare at least one nation: India.

“Both the United States and India should not buy Russian oil and gas, but I don’t think simply imposing big tariffs on India is the way to get them to” decrease their purchases, stated Richard Fontaine, CEO of the Center for a New American Security.

Penalizing India for its dependence on Russian energy “would deal a body blow to the US-India relationship,” argued Sadanand Dhume, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations.

The United States and India are presently secured trade settlements, which more tariffs would undoubtedly interrupt. Fontaine stated it is “100%” possible that the Trump administration utilizes the sanctions law to pressure India to succumb to its needs in those conversations. Trump had actually formerly treked tariffs on India over its Russian energy purchases, however later on eliminated them as trade talks advanced.

Asked whether Trump had actually decided on which sanctions, if any, to enforce at the due date, a White House authorities stated that he “signed the act and the administration will comply with the act’s requirements.” The expense provides the president broad power to waive charges if he considers it in the United States interest.

— Morgan Chalfant