Trump’s Tariff Hammer Falls on India as US Explores Energy Deals with Russia

President Donald Trump’s tariff hammer is set to fall on India this week, with duties reaching 50% as a penalty for buying Russian oil. In a remarkable twist, however, his administration is simultaneously exploring lucrative energy deals with the very nation at the center of the dispute: Russia.
The justification for the steep tariffs on India has been its ongoing trade relationship with Moscow. An executive order signed by Trump explicitly targets India for importing Russian oil, framing it as an action that undermines US foreign policy objectives.
Yet, a different set of rules seems to apply to American interests. US and Russian officials are in talks about a range of energy-related collaborations. These discussions include a potential green light for Exxon Mobil to return to the Sakhalin-1 project and sales of US technology for sanctioned Russian LNG facilities.
This apparent double standard is reportedly motivated by a desire to bring Russia to the negotiating table over Ukraine. It also aligns with President Trump’s stated goal of securing a “big investment deal,” suggesting that geopolitical strategy and political optics are driving a policy that treats an ally more harshly than an adversary.