US Criticises Europe Over India Tariffs At Davos
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has defended Washington’s decision to impose additional tariffs on Indian imports, saying the move achieved its intended objective. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Bessent said India’s purchases of Russian crude oil had declined, indicating that the tariff pressure had an impact.
Europe Accused Of Trade Priorities
Bessent criticised European countries for not taking similar tariff action against India. He said European governments avoided imposing duties because they were focused on securing a free trade agreement with New Delhi. According to him, this approach weakened a coordinated Western trade strategy and reflected competing economic priorities.
Scope For Tariff Rollback
The US Treasury Secretary said there is now a possible path to reconsider or roll back the additional tariffs on India, depending on future developments. He indicated that trade decisions would continue to be reviewed in line with broader geopolitical and economic objectives. The remarks highlighted differing approaches among Western economies toward India’s trade and energy policies.
