US President Donald Trump has escalated his trade offensive against India, announcing a steeper set of tariffs in response to New Delhi’s continued purchase of Russian oil. Just hours before a new wave of duties is set to kick in, Trump declared an additional 25% tariff on Indian imports, which will come into effect in three weeks. This adds to a prior 25% tariff set to begin Thursday, effectively doubling the duty to 50% on a wide range of Indian products.
India sharply criticised the move, calling it “unfair, unjustified and unreasonable.” The Ministry of External Affairs defended its oil trade policy, stating that India turned to Russian supplies after traditional sources were redirected to Europe due to the war. Notably, the ministry added that such diversification was once "actively encouraged" by Washington to maintain stability in the global energy market.
However, the administration has clarified that certain categories will remain exempt for now. These include sector-specific duties already in place, such as on steel and aluminium, and other sensitive areas like pharmaceuticals and semiconductors—though they may be targeted in future rounds.