New Delhi, March 26 -- Ahead of implementing reciprocal tariffs on major trading partners, US President Donald Trump announced another trade offensive: countries buying Venezuelan oil and gas would have to pay a 25% tariff on goods exported into the US.

India is one of the buyers of Venezuelan oil but its purchases are tiny compared to those of the US and China. It is also less than 1% of India's total petroleum crude and product imports by value.

White House introduced the punitive secondary tariff as it believes Venezuela was 'purposefully and deceitfully' sending criminals and murderers into the US. This tariff will come into effect on 2 April along with reciprocal tariffs on major trading partners.

Meanwhile, there are indications ...