OREANDA-NEWS  US import duties are unlikely to affect trade between Russia and India. This is how Dmitry Birichevsky, director of the Department of Economic Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, assessed the prospects, RIA Novosti quoted him as saying.

According to the diplomat, Washington wants India to abandon Russian oil and buy American oil, which loses in a fair competition. Additional tariffs will inevitably have a negative impact on Indian-American trade, but will not affect relations between Moscow and New Delhi.

"Negotiations are also underway to conclude an agreement on the creation of a free trade zone between India and the EAEU. Indian goods are very popular in the world and will easily find new buyers," Birichevsky said on the sidelines of the WEF.

The Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry stated that the 50 percent US duties could reduce the total exports of the Asian country by 10-15 percent. However, Prime Minister Narendra Modi promised that he would not act to the detriment of the interests of local companies, even if he had to pay a high price, and promised to do everything possible to support them.