Daybreak Biden said 'please' till 2024. Trump's saying 'penalty' in 2025
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Aug 7, 2025 The podcast dives into India's surprising transition from a U.S. energy partner to a trade target, facing a staggering 50% tariff on exports. It raises questions about the shifting U.S. policies and the double standards in international trade, especially concerning Russia and Israel. The discussion highlights the complexities of geopolitical relationships as global dynamics shift, making listeners contemplate the fine line between allyship and economic punishment.
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US Encouraged India's Russian Oil Buy
- In early 2024, the US publicly encouraged India to buy discounted Russian oil to keep global oil prices low during the Ukraine war sanctions.
- This trade helped stabilize energy markets, benefiting Russia, India, and Western economies simultaneously.
Refined Russian Oil Viewed Differently
- The US argued that once Russian crude is refined, it isn't considered Russian oil, making India's exports sanctioned-compliant.
- Despite this, in 2025 the same oil trade became grounds for punitive tariffs under Trump administration policies.
Trump's Tariffs on India Explained
- In 2025, Donald Trump imposed and then doubled tariffs on Indian imports citing India's Russian oil purchases as funding Putin's war machine.
- Despite China's larger Russian oil imports, it was not targeted by these tariffs, highlighting selectivity in US policy.