India, Sept. 12 -- US President Donald Trump on Friday acknowledged that his administration's decision to impose a 50 percent tariff on India for its purchases of Russian oil has soured relations between the two countries.

"Look, India was their (Russia's) biggest customer. I put a 50% tariff on India because they're buying oil from Russia. That's not an easy thing to do," Trump said in an interview with Fox News. "That's a big deal. And it causes a rift with India."

India, the world's fifth-largest economy, has continued to buy discounted Russian crude despite Western sanctions on Moscow following its invasion of Ukraine.

Talks aimed at lowering duties collapsed after New Delhi refused to open its agricultural and dairy markets, long ...