The government on Friday trashed the media reports claiming that India has halted the United States’ weapons and aircraft purchases after President Donald Trump announced 50 per cent tariffs on Indian imports, taking the trade relations to a new low.
The Defence Ministry claimed that such media reports are false and fabricated. It added that various cases of procurements are being processed.
The Defence Ministry officials said, “The news reports on India pausing the talks related to defence purchases with the US are false and fabricated. It is clarified that the various cases of procurement are being progressed as per the extant procedures”.
Earlier in the day, news agency Reuters reported that New Delhi had halted its plans to buy new US-made weapons and aircraft. The news agency cited three Indian officials, who allegedly said that the decision marks a significant cooling in defence engagement and that Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s planned visit to Washington has also been cancelled.
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The news agency reported that India had been preparing to send the Defence Minister to the US in the coming weeks to announce some of these purchases. “That trip has been cancelled,” two of the officials told the agency.
Last month, Trump announced a 25 per cent tariff, and on August 6, he announced an additional 25 per cent tariff, taking it to a total of 50 per cent. The additional tariff was announced by Trump over the continued purchase of Russian crude by India.
In an official statement, MEA said, “It is extremely unfortunate that the US chose to impose additional tariffs on India for actions that several other countries are also taking in their own national interest.” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal added, “We reiterate that these actions are unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable. India will take all actions necessary to protect its national interests.”