WASHINGTON – India may come under US military sanctions over the latestmissile defence system deal with Russia.
For India, getting a presidential waiver from the biting CAATSA sanctionsmight not be that easy, some American experts believe referring to thechanging political dynamics within the administration and President DonaldTrump’s personal strong views against New Delhi’s trade and tariff policiesand calling it a “tariff king”, PTI has reported.
Under the CAATSA which was signed into law last year, India is subject tosanctions now that it has entered into an agreement with Russia to purchaseS-400 Triumf missile defence system in USD 5.4 billion, which is consideredby the US as a significant purchase.
The Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act or CAATSA givesthe Trump administration more ways to target Russia, Iran and North Koreawith economic and political sanctions.
Only last month, US had used CAATSA to impose sanctions on Chinese entitiesfor purchase of S-400. Friends of India in the US hope that New Delhi willreceive a presidential waiver, given that Trump Administration hasrecognised India as a major defense partner and is in advance stage ofselling billions of dollars’ worth of equipment to India in the next fewyears.
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Congressional sources say that both Defence Secretary Jim Mattis andSecretary of State Mike Pompeo pushed for a presidential CAATSA waiverkeeping India in mind. But the final decision will be taken by Trump, whoin the last several weeks has been very critical of India’s trade andtariff policies.
Last week, Trump described India as a “tariff king” and said India wants tohave a trade deal with the US after he warned them of imposing additionaltariffs on their imports. His latest statements have made some experts feelthat the presidential waiver might not be that easy.
