US imports from Russia surge 23% in 2025, India calls out Trump for hypocrisy amid tariff threats

Even as US President Donald Trump attempts to dictate tariff terms and impose penalties on India for importing oil from Russia, Washington’s own trade with Moscow is quietly on the rise, even as it chastises New Delhi over its energy and defence ties.

According to a report from The Indian Express, between January and May 2025, American imports from Russia rose by 23 per cent year-on-year to $2.1 billion, driven largely by uranium, palladium, and fertilisers.

This surge comes despite earlier heavy US sanctions on Moscow. Following the outbreak of the Ukraine war in 2022, US imports from Russia plummeted from $30 billion in 2021 to just $3 billion by 2024. Crude oil, once the top US import from Russia, valued at over $17 billion in 2021, has virtually disappeared. Yet essential commodities such as fertilisers, uranium, and palladium continue to enter the US in significant volumes.

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According to data from the US International Trade Commission cited  in the report, America imported $806 million worth of Russian fertilisers in the first five months of 2025, a 21 per cent increase from last year and 60 per cent higher than the same period in 2021. Uranium imports surged 28 per cent year-on-year to $596 million, nearly 150 per cent higher than in 2021.

Although the US formally banned enriched uranium imports from Russia in 2024, companies are allowed to apply for waivers until 2028, a key reason behind the continuing flow.

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Palladium, primarily used in catalytic converters to reduce vehicle emissions, also remains a significant import. In 2024, the US imported $878 million worth of the metal from Russia.

This growing trade has drawn scrutiny after President Donald Trump threatened steep new tariffs on Indian goods, accusing New Delhi of taking advantage of discounted Russian crude.

India hit back sharply. “The US continues to import uranium, palladium, and fertilisers from Russia even as it criticises us,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Monday. “India’s oil imports are based on economic necessity, not political preference.”

The MEA had earlier criticised the US and European nations for what it called blatant hypocrisy.

In 2024, the EU traded goods worth €67.5 billion and services worth €17.2 billion with Russia far surpassing India’s total trade. European imports of Russian LNG also hit a record 16.5 million tonnes that year, higher than pre-war levels.

“Unlike India, whose trade is driven by national need, many Western countries continue their commerce with Russia by choice,” the MEA said.