Trump Imposes 25% Tariff on Indian Imports Starting August 1, Cites Trade Barriers and Russia Ties
Trump Imposes 25% Tariff on Indian Imports Starting August 1, Cites Trade Barriers and Russia Ties
US President Donald Trump has announced a 25% tariff on Indian imports effective August 1, along with an additional penalty, citing India’s high trade barriers and ongoing ties with Russia.
In a statement posted on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump said, “India is our friend, but we’ve done relatively little business with them because their tariffs are far too high… and they have the most strenuous and obnoxious non-monetary trade barriers of any country.”
Trump also criticized India’s defense and energy ties with Russia, noting that the country remains one of Russia’s largest buyers of military equipment and energy. “At a time when the world wants Russia to stop the killing in Ukraine, India continues to fuel their economy. ALL THINGS NOT GOOD!” he wrote.
Concluding his post, Trump stated: “INDIA WILL THEREFORE BE PAYING A TARIFF OF 25%, PLUS A PENALTY FOR THE ABOVE, STARTING ON AUGUST FIRST.”
A senior Indian government source told News18 that officials are analyzing Trump’s statement and assessing the legality and scope of the new tariffs and penalties. While a 25% tariff is not unprecedented, the source emphasized the need to scrutinize the fine print.
Ongoing Trade Tensions
Trump had previously proposed duties as high as 27% on Indian goods in April, but that plan was put on hold during ongoing negotiations. Talks between the two nations have since resumed, marked by a mix of optimism and concern.
US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer recently said, “We continue to speak with our Indian counterparts. We’ve always had very constructive discussions with them,” while noting that Trump’s trade strategy is centered on increasing market access for American exports in sectors affected by India’s protectionist policies.
