Srinagar, Aug. 5 -- New Delhi has hit back strongly at Donald Trump's threat to impose steep tariffs on Indian goods over its Russian oil imports, calling the move "unjustified and unreasonable." India reminded the US that it had encouraged such imports when global oil markets were in flux after the Ukraine war broke out.

In a detailed rebuttal, the Ministry of External Affairs pointed out that countries now targeting India - including the US and European Union - are themselves continuing substantial trade with Russia, despite having no pressing need to do so.

"The EU's bilateral trade with Russia was €67.5 billion in goods and €17.2 billion in services in 2023, far exceeding India's trade volume," the statement noted. It al...