Washington, DC – In a bold statement, US President Donald Trump announced plans to significantly escalate tariffs on Indian goods within the next 24 hours, citing India’s ongoing purchase of Russian oil as a primary concern. This follows Trump’s earlier decision to impose a 25% tariff on Indian exports, a move prompted by India’s high tariffs on US products and its continued energy trade with Russia amid the Ukraine conflict.
Trump reiterated his long-standing claim that India imposes some of the highest tariffs on American goods globally, describing the trade relationship as imbalanced. “India has not been a good trading partner because they do a lot of business with us, but we don’t do business with them,” he told. He expressed frustration over India’s purchase of Russian oil, accusing New Delhi of fueling Russia’s “war machine” in Ukraine. “They’re buying Russian oil and fueling the war machine. And if they are going to do that, I’m not going to be happy,” Trump added.
The announcement builds on Trump’s earlier actions, including a 25% tariff imposed on India ahead of an August 1 deadline, which was linked to India’s high tariffs on US goods and its economic ties with Russia, including participation in the BRICS bloc. The US president’s remarks come amid heightened tensions over India’s refusal to scale back its energy imports from Russia, a key revenue source for Moscow during its ongoing conflict with Ukraine.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs has pushed back, calling the US tariffs “unjustified and unreasonable.” The ministry noted that India’s oil imports from Russia were initially encouraged by the US to stabilize global energy markets after Western sanctions disrupted supplies following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Indian officials emphasized that New Delhi’s trade decisions are driven by the need to ensure affordable energy for its consumers.
The escalating trade dispute underscores broader geopolitical frictions, with Trump’s administration intensifying pressure on nations maintaining economic ties with Russia. As the situation develops, India has signaled its intent to safeguard its economic interests while navigating this complex diplomatic challenge.