India fired back at the United States after President Trump pledged to increase tariffs on New Delhi over the country’s purchase of Russian oil. In a statement Monday, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the purchase of Russian oil is a “necessity” to “ensure predictable and affordable energy costs” and was once “encouraged”

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump again threatened on Monday to raise tariffs on goods from India over its Russian oil purchases, while New Delhi called his attack "unjustified" and vowed to protect its economic interests, deepening the trade rift between the two countries.

Continuing his tirade against India, US President Donald Trump has now threatened to impose substantially higher tariffs on India in the next 24 hours. A day after he launched a fresh salvo at India over Russian oil imports, Trump told CNBC today: "I think I am going to raise India's tariffs substantially in the next 24 hours."