U.S. President Donald Trump announced he will impose 25% tariffs on Indian goods starting August 1, adding further penalties over the country’s continued energy imports from Russia.
In a post on Truth Social on Wednesday, Trump criticized India’s trade practices, stating the country has “some of the highest tariffs in the world” and “the most painful and annoying non-monetary trade barriers of any country.”
“They have also always bought the vast majority of their military equipment from Russia and are the largest buyer of RUSSIAN ENERGY—alongside China—at a time when the world wants Russia to STOP THE KILLINGS IN UKRAINE,” he wrote. “Therefore, INDIA WILL PAY A 25% TARIFF, PLUS A PENALTY FOR THE ABOVE, STARTING AUGUST 1.”
The new tariffs deal a major blow to New Delhi’s hopes for preferential treatment compared to its regional peers. India had been among the first countries to initiate trade discussions with Washington following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the White House in February.
Throughout much of the year, the Modi government had adopted a conciliatory tone toward Trump, making adjustments to its tariff regime and offering multiple concessions on trade and immigration. However, talks stalled in recent weeks over contentious issues such as agricultural market access, prompting New Delhi to take a firmer stance.
Trump had earlier hinted at a “very big” trade agreement that would open Indian markets to U.S. businesses but reversed course this week, saying India could face tariffs ranging from 20% to 25%.
The announcement is likely to strain U.S.-India economic relations, adding further uncertainty to an already complex geopolitical landscape.
