WASHINGTON, Feb 3: US Senator Lindsey Graham on Monday stated that India has “more than earned” the tariff reduction announced under the new India–US trade deal, linking it to New Delhi’s decision to scale back Russian oil purchases as the Ukraine war enters its fifth year on February 24, 2026.
In a post on X, Graham praised President Donald Trump’s strategy of exerting economic pressure on countries importing Russian energy, noting that the trade deal with India reflects the approach’s effectiveness. Under the agreement, reciprocal tariffs on Indian goods will be lowered from 25 per cent to 18 per cent.
“Well played, President Trump. I think your message about ending this war by having Putin’s customers who prop up his war machine recalculate is working,” Graham said. He added that India’s conduct justified the tariff cut and expressed hope that other major Russian oil buyers would follow India’s example.
Linking the trade decision to broader geopolitical objectives, Graham emphasized that Russian President Vladimir Putin will only negotiate under heightened pressure, stating, “Putin will only come to the table when the pain is so great. We’re not there yet, but with India’s actions, we are moving closer. End the bloodbath in Ukraine now.”
Earlier on Monday, President Trump announced the historic agreement, describing it as “out of friendship and respect” for Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The deal ends nearly 11 months of trade uncertainty, reducing US tariffs on Indian goods from as high as 50 per cent to 18 per cent, and commits India to gradually remove non-tariff barriers against US exports.
The tariff reduction is expected to boost the competitiveness of Indian goods in the US market, enhance order visibility, ease margin pressures, and support stronger pricing power for export-oriented sectors.