File picture of U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance.
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U.S. President Donald Trump has not yet decided on imposing levies on China for purchasing oil from Russia, as Washington’s ties with Beijing “affect many things that have nothing to do with the Russian situation”, U.S. Vice-President J.D. Vance has said.
“Well, the President said he’s thinking about it, but he hasn’t made any firm decisions,” Mr. Vance told Fox News Sunday (August 10, 2025).
He was responding to a question about Mr. Trump imposing significant tariffs on countries like India for buying Russian oil and whether Washington will impose similar levies on China since Beijing also buys Russian oil.
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“Obviously the China issue is a little bit more complicated because our relationship with China, it affects a lot of other things that have nothing to do with the Russian situation,” Mr. Vance said.
He added that Mr. Trump is “reviewing his options, and of course, going to make that decision when he decides.”
The U.S. had initially imposed 25% reciprocal tariffs on India and Mr. Trump last week slapped another 25% levies on Delhi for its purchases of Russian oil, bringing the total duties on India to 50%, among the highest imposed by the U.S. on any country in the world.
The additional 25% duty will come into effect from August 27.
India slammed the move as “unfair, unjustified and unreasonable”.
“It is extremely unfortunate that the U.S. should choose to impose additional tariffs on India,” the External Affairs Ministry said in a statement in Delhi, adding that India will take all actions necessary to protect its national interests.
Published – August 11, 2025 10:48 am IST
