Washington DC: US Presidential Counsellor Peter Navarro has said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Donald Trump will work together to settle the dispute over Washington’s proposed tariffs related to India’s purchases of Russian oil.
His remarks came days after the US Senate passed a bill that could give Trump the power to impose tariffs of up to 100 per cent on goods from countries that continue buying Russian oil and gas.
He said the two leaders have a “very good working relationship” and suggested that the issue surrounding the proposed 100 per cent tariff should be handled directly by them. He then referred to the relationship between Trump and Modi when asked about the tariff issue. “That’s not how we resolve problems here in America. With respect to your question, the president and your prime minister have a very good working relationship. They are going to work that out amongst themselves, and it’s not for me or any gaggle to get between that,” he added.
On August 7, the Senate approved the bipartisan Lindsey O Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 by an 86-11 vote. Under the proposed law, the US president would have discretionary authority to impose tariffs of up to 100 per cent on imports from the world’s five biggest buyers of Russian crude oil or natural gas. The bill is named after late Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who was one of its principal architects. The proposed legislation also proposes new sanctions against Russian President Vladimir Putin, senior political and military officials, financial institutions, energy projects and other entities associated to Russia’s war effort.
