Rubio says Trump admin hopes to ‘fix’ tariffs on India over Russian oil

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday (Sept 23) said President Donald Trump is open to “fixing” the punitive tariffs imposed on India over its Russian oil purchases, even as Washington weighs fresh sanctions on Moscow amid the Ukraine war.

In an interview with NBC’s Today show, Rubio criticised Europe for continuing to import “massive amounts of oil and natural gas from Russia,” calling it “absurd.” He added, “They’re asking for the US to impose more sanctions, but there are countries in Europe that are not doing enough.”

On India, he noted: “We’ve already seen the measures we’ve taken with regards to India, although that’s something we hope we can fix. But – and the President has the ability to do more, and he’s considering doing more because of the direction this has taken.”

The Trump administration has imposed an additional 25 per cent tariff on New Delhi over Russian energy imports, taking total US duties on India to 50 per cent — among the steepest globally.

Rubio said Trump remains frustrated with Russian President Vladimir Putin despite their summit in Alaska this August. “At some point, he may have to decide to impose new sanctions,” Rubio said. “But let’s remember, he didn’t start this war. He inherited it, and all he’s wanted to do is end it.”

The secretary also echoed Trump’s claims of ending regional conflicts. “Look what the President’s done and the wars he’s brought about to an end – Thailand and Cambodia, India and Pakistan. Time and again, the President has been the only leader in the world that can get involved,” Rubio said. “That doesn’t sound like a third-world country to me. That sounds like a very powerful, influential country who is stronger and more respected on the world stage.”

India, however, maintains that the truce on the Line of Control was achieved through direct talks between the two armies’ Directors General of Military Operations.

Rubio met External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar in New York on Monday on the sidelines of the 80th UN General Assembly. Their hour-long talks were the first face-to-face meeting since tensions flared over tariffs and India’s energy ties with Russia.