Could be personal opinion or misunderstanding: Piyush Goyal on comments by Navarro

Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, in a conversation with CNN-News18 Editor-in-Chief Rahul Joshi, sought to play down remarks by Donald Trump’s trade adviser Peter Navarro, who accused India of profiteering from Russian oil and branded it the “maharaja of tariffs.” “I think there are some misunderstandings or some personal opinions. I don’t think that deters India and the US from continuing to maintain a strategic partnership,” Goyal said.

Navarro’s sharp criticism

Navarro has been one of the most vocal defenders of the Trump administration’s steep 50 per cent tariffs on Indian imports. He argued that “the road to peace runs in part through New Delhi,” suggesting the duties were meant to curb India’s discounted oil trade with Moscow. He also alleged that Indian refiners were acting as a “laundromat for the Kremlin.”

Goyal emphasises patience, diplomacy

Rejecting calls for retaliation, Goyal underlined that India would not escalate tensions. “I believe in dialogue, diplomacy,” he told Joshi, describing India as a “patient nation” committed to strengthening, not weakening, its ties with Washington.

Trade ties under pressure

The US has imposed a 50 per cent tariff on Indian imports—split between a base 25 per cent duty and an additional 25 per cent surcharge linked to Russian oil purchases—hitting nearly $48 billion in exports. In response, India has announced GST cuts on hundreds of consumer goods to cushion domestic demand ahead of Diwali.

Puri counters Navarro’s ‘oil laundromat’ jibe

On September 2, Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri strongly pushed back against Navarro’s charge that India has become an “oil laundromat” for Russia. Writing in The Hindu, Puri argued that New Delhi has acted fully within international rules while also helping to stabilise volatile energy markets. He noted that India has long been among the world’s top petroleum exporters, a position it held well before the Ukraine war and said refining margins and trade volumes have remained steady since Moscow’s invasion. Puri underlined that Europe itself relied on Indian refined fuels after banning Russian crude, making accusations of profiteering misplaced.

Navarro’s ongoing offensive

Navarro has repeatedly accused India of bankrolling Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war by purchasing discounted Russian crude, refining it and then reselling the products at a premium. In posts on X and in television interviews, he has even dubbed the Ukraine conflict “Modi’s war,” alleging that Indian refiners have turned New Delhi into a hub for Russian revenues. His remarks have drawn sharp reactions from India, who in no uncertain terms said the country’s energy trade is legal, transparent and essential for its security.

In an interview to Fox News, while Navarro praised Prime Minister Modi as a “great leader” but questioned why India is aligning with Russia and China. He went on to accuse “ Brahmins” of profiteering at the expense of ordinary Indians—a remark widely criticised as ignorant and offensive. Navarro also argued that tariffs on India were justified both by its trade practices and its oil dealings, warning that the country had become central to sustaining Russia’s war machine.

Russian oil imports in spotlight

India’s imports of Russian crude climbed dramatically after February 2022—from less than 1 per cent of intake to nearly 40 per cent, according to a CLSA report. Critics in Washington argue that Indian refined exports to Europe undermine sanctions, while India made it clear that Russian oil has never been under blanket bans like those on Venezuela or Iran.

Tariffs and the wider debate

Navarro framed Trump’s 50 per cent tariff on Indian imports as a twofold measure—25 per cent to counter what he called unfair trade barriers, and another 25 per cent tied to national security concerns about Russia. He claimed the US trade deficit with India effectively funds Moscow’s war chest, which the Trump administration official got it completely wrong.