U.S. President Donald Trump has announced an additional 25% tariff on Indian goods in response to India’s continued purchase of oil from Russia, effectively doubling the total tariff rate to 50%.
According to Reuters, the decision was made official through an executive order signed on Wednesday, August 6. Just two days earlier, Trump had warned of punitive measures against India for what he described as “profiting heavily” from buying Russian oil and selling it at higher prices on the open market.
In a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump accused India of undermining global sanctions by engaging in large-scale oil trade with Moscow. He argued that such actions not only weaken international pressure on Russia but also give India an unfair trade advantage.
AFP reports that the newly imposed tariffs will come into effect within three weeks. In addition, a previously scheduled 25% tariff is set to take effect this Thursday, bringing the combined tariff burden on Indian imports to 50%.
The executive order also warned that other countries engaging in direct or indirect imports of Russian oil could face similar punitive measures. However, exemptions will remain in place for essential sectors such as pharmaceuticals and certain industrial goods like steel and aluminum.
As the war in Ukraine continues and Moscow resists calls for a peace agreement, the U.S. has intensified efforts to pressure Russia’s trade partners. India, however, remains firm in its position. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs earlier criticized Washington’s pressure as “unreasonable and unfair,” stating that the country is committed to protecting its national interests.
Amid growing tensions with the United States over trade policies, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit China later this month. He is scheduled to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Tianjin on August 31, as confirmed by official sources.
The announcement of the new tariffs came just hours after Modi’s upcoming China visit was made public, signaling a critical juncture in India’s diplomatic and economic balancing act between global powers.