Trump Imposes 25% Tariff and Additional Penalty on Indian Exports Over Russia Ties
New Delhi:
Former U.S. President Donald Trump announced that India will face a 25% tariff on exports to the United States starting August 1. In addition to this tariff, an unspecified penalty will be imposed due to India’s continued purchase of military equipment and oil from Russia.
Trump made the declaration via his social media platform, Truth Social, calling India “our friend” but criticizing its high tariffs and non-monetary trade barriers. He claimed India’s trade policies have long hindered American businesses and accused the country of indirectly funding Russia’s war in Ukraine through its energy and defense purchases.
“While India is our friend, their tariffs are among the highest in the world, and their trade practices are extremely difficult for foreign companies,” Trump wrote. “They continue to buy military hardware and energy from Russia — the largest buyer in fact — even as the global community pushes Russia to end the war.”
The announcement follows Trump’s earlier warning that several countries, including India, would face reciprocal tariffs unless more balanced trade agreements were reached. Though initial hikes were announced in April, they were temporarily paused for negotiations.
The tariff announcement comes amid ongoing trade discussions between the two nations. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer recently said more time is needed to assess India’s willingness to open its market, particularly in sensitive sectors like dairy and agriculture.
India’s merchandise exports to the U.S. rose 22.8% to $25.51 billion in the April–June quarter of this fiscal year, while imports from the U.S. increased by 11.68% to $12.86 billion.
Trump reiterated his stance that U.S. tariffs are essential to gaining fair access to global markets. He also dismissed the notion that any conditions were set for a final deal with India, emphasizing, “We’re going to get access to India — we had none before. The tariffs are creating that opportunity.”
Despite expressing respect for India as a long-standing partner, Trump emphasized that trade fairness and reducing American deficits remain top priorities, even if it means straining relationships with allies.
News Source : Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.
