Trump Announces 25% Tariff On Indian Imports Over Russia Ties
U.S. President Donald Trump has announced a 25% tariff, along with an unspecified penalty, on Indian imports starting August 1, 2025, citing India’s continued defense and energy ties with Russia.
In a sharply worded statement, Trump criticized India for maintaining strong military and energy relations with Moscow, calling it “Russia’s largest buyer of energy” and a major purchaser of Russian arms. “They have always bought a vast majority of their military equipment from Russia… at a time when everyone wants Russia to stop the killing in Ukraine,” he wrote.
Trump also took aim at India’s trade practices, calling its tariffs “among the highest in the world” and accusing the country of enforcing “obnoxious non-monetary trade barriers.” He said the U.S. has done “relatively little business” with India due to these restrictions and cited a “massive trade deficit.”
“India will pay a tariff of 25% plus a penalty for the above, starting on August first,” Trump stated, signaling a potential shift to a more aggressive trade stance if he returns to office in 2025.
The Biden administration has not imposed similar measures, though it has expressed concerns over India’s defense ties with Russia.
India has yet to issue an official response. If enforced, the tariffs could strain U.S.-India trade relations, which have deepened significantly in recent years.
Trump had previously announced 26% tariffs on Indian goods in April 2024, but they were suspended shortly after.
