U.S. Supreme Court ruling constrained Trump's tariff authority against India
India will likely continue purchasing Russian oil at reduced but significant levels
U.S.-India tensions over Russian oil imports have been a persistent issue
India's energy strategy is driven by price considerations and supplier diversification
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The U.S. Supreme Court's recent ruling that President Donald Trump lacked legal authority to implement sweeping import tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act has likely secured India's ability to continue purchasing Russian oil, according to analysts who suggest the U.S. may no longer have sufficient leverage to pressure New Delhi into halting these imports. The court decision has constrained Trump's trade policy options, particularly regarding his ability to amend tariffs based on factors unrelated to trade or economics, creating new room for India's energy imports from Russia. According to energy data provider Kpler, India imported 1.16 million barrels per day of Russian oil in February, down from an average of 1.71 million barrels per day in 2025, but analysts now believe India can maintain Russian oil imports between 800,000 and 1 million barrels per day despite U.S. pressure. India's purchases of Russian oil have been a persistent point of contention between Washington and New Delhi, with Trump having previously imposed additional tariffs claiming India was 'fueling [Russia's] war machine' against Ukraine, though the joint statement announcing their interim trade deal made no formal commitment to curb Russian oil purchases.
The petroleum or oil industry in Russia is one of the largest in the world. Russia has the largest reserves and was the largest exporter of natural gas. It has the sixth largest oil reserves, and is one of the largest producers of oil.
A commercial policy (also referred to as a trade policy or international trade policy) is a government's policy governing international trade. Commercial policy is an all encompassing term that is used to cover topics which involve international trade. Trade policy is often described in terms of a ...
Energy policies are the government's strategies and decisions regarding the production, distribution, and consumption of energy within a specific jurisdiction. Energy is essential for the functioning of modern economies because they require energy for many sectors, such as industry, transport, agric...
In this article UAMY Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNT US President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrive to hold a joint press conference in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on February 13, 2025. Jim Watson | Afp | Getty Images India will likely continue buying Russian oil as the U.S. Supreme Court's verdict outlawing President Donald Trump's import tariffs has constrained his trade policy options, analysts said. "I do expect that India will maintain a healthy relationship with Russia, including on energy," Sarang Shidore, director of the Global South Program at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft told CNBC's Inside India. He added that India could reduce its Russian oil purchases but is unlikely to stop completely. According to energy data provider Kpler, India has imported 1.16 million barrel per day of Russian oil so far in February, lower than an average intake of 1.71 million barrels per day in 2025. While it is too early to draw data on March and April arrivals, Muyu Xu, senior research analyst for crude at Kpler, said that "market chatter indicates" Indian refiners have refrained from booking April delivery of Russian oil this month following an interim US-India trade deal reached earlier this month. But following the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling on Friday that Trump did not have the legal authority to implement sweeping import tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act , Xu said India now has the room to maintain Russian oil imports between 800,000 and 1 million barrels per day. According to Shidore, Trump's ability to amend tariffs for reasons such as the purchase of Russian oil or factors unrelated to trade or economics will be constrained due to the court ruling. India's Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas did not respond to CNBC's request for comments. watch now VIDEO 4:07 04:07 U.S. tariff shocks add urgency to India's multi-alignment strategy: Strategist Inside Indi...
