How does Trump-Putin's Alaska meeting relate to India's tariff relief
What's the story
Michael Kugelman, a Washington DC-based South Asia analyst, has said there is a "very strong link" between the upcoming meeting between United States President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Alaska and tariffs on India. The meeting is scheduled to take place on Friday. There are widespread expectations that the two leaders may reach an agreement regarding the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Tariff implications
Kugelman speculates on potential tariff reductions
Kugelman, a Non-resident Senior Fellow at the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, said that if Putin agrees to a ceasefire or something similar during this meeting, it could lead to a reduction or removal of the tariffs imposed on India. These tariffs include a total of 50%—25% introduced on July 31 on over 60 countries and an additional 25% specifically for India's purchase of Russian oil on August 6.
Strategic pressure
Kugelman's insights on Trump's India tariffs rationale
Kugelman speculated that one reason behind Trump imposing tariffs on India was to pressure Russia into stopping its aggression by getting its key commercial partners like India to stop buying Russian goods. "And so if there is an agreement that comes out of this meeting,...I suspect that that would take the heat off of India in the sense that President Trump would not want to pressure India as much," he said.
Diplomatic efforts
Modi's diplomatic efforts amid Ukraine conflict
Kugelman also noted Prime Minister Narendra Modi's continued engagement with senior officials in both Russia and Ukraine. He said that Modi has been conveying the message that "this is not an era of war." Modi spoke with Putin on the phone over the weekend and with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday.