New Delhi: Phil Murphy, the Governor of New Jersey and a senior Democratic Party leader, on Wednesday expressed his views on India–US trade relations and criticized Donald Trump’s tariff policy. Murphy said that the India–US trade talks would likely arrive at a practical solution on the 50 percent tariff issue, but it was also possible that some bargaining related to the oil trade might be involved.
To recall, the United States imposed a 25 percent punitive tariff on India last month for importing oil from Russia. Meanwhile, India’s Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said that in the coming years, the US will play a crucial role in India’s energy security. The United States is India’s fifth-largest supplier of crude oil and the second-largest supplier of LNG.
Phil Murphy, who is currently on a six-day visit to India with his wife Tammy Murphy, in an interview given in Mumbai said, “There are signs that a solution on tariffs will come soon. It may be less punitive than the current situation. But it also seems likely that there will be a major agreement on oil trade.”
Supporting Trump’s tough stance on Russia, he said that it is necessary to hold Russia accountable, but imposing heavy tariffs on allied countries is not the right approach. Making a strong remark on China, Murphy said, “China cannot be spared under any circumstances. It must be held accountable.”
On the recent tensions in India–US relations, Murphy said, “This is not a long-term problem, but rather a temporary phase. However, rebuilding trust will not be easy. By nature, I am an optimist and I believe that the deep ties between India and the US can be preserved.”
He added, “The student visa system needs to be improved, and that could be a long process. Much of this depends on who the President of the United States is.”
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