Washington DC, Aug. 27 -- Following Washington's 50 per cent tariffs on Indian goods coming into effect earlier on Wednesday, US National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett noted India's "intransigence" to open its markets to American products while describing the current India-US relationship as a "complicated" one.

Speaking to US Media during a White House gaggle, Hassett linked the US tariffs imposed on India to broader geopolitical efforts to pressure Russia over the Ukraine conflict.

"I think it's a complicated relationship. Part of it has been tied to the pressure we've been trying to put on Russia in order to secure a peace deal and save millions of lives. And then there's the Indian intransigence about opening their markets...