Trump Slaps 25% Tariff on India, Warns of Additional Penalty Over Russian Alliance

U.S. President Donald Trump has announced a 25% tariff on goods imported from India, set to take effect this Friday. The move is part of a broader series of tariff hikes aimed at reshaping global trade dynamics and tightening pressure on countries maintaining close ties with Russia.

Trump also revealed that India would face an additional, unspecified penalty due to its continued purchase of Russian weapons and energy, citing concerns over the ongoing war in Ukraine. The penalties are intended to underscore Washington’s disapproval of countries perceived to be enabling Moscow’s war efforts through trade.

While the new tariff is slightly below the initial rate proposed in April, it remains higher than those imposed on several other Asian nations currently negotiating trade deals with the U.S.

India had entered trade discussions with the Trump administration earlier this year, but talks have stalled due to Washington’s sweeping demands and New Delhi’s hesitancy to open up sensitive sectors like agriculture and dairy.

“India may be a friend, but their tariffs remain among the highest in the world, and their trade barriers are extremely restrictive,” Trump said in a statement. He also criticized India’s defense and energy ties with Moscow, calling it Russia’s biggest energy customer alongside China.

Trump’s broader trade agenda includes secondary tariffs targeting countries that maintain strong economic links with Russia, as part of his strategy to cut off Moscow’s access to global markets.

He has given Russian President Vladimir Putin a ten-day deadline to change course on Ukraine or face further consequences, which may include punitive trade measures against Moscow’s remaining allies.

In parallel, Trump continues to push for renegotiated trade agreements globally. Talks with China resumed this week in Stockholm, focusing on extending a temporary tariff truce ahead of an August 12 deadline. While no deal has been reached, discussions are ongoing.

Trump has also threatened Brazil with steep tariffs, reportedly as part of a wider effort to pressure the country over its handling of domestic political trials involving former President Jair Bolsonaro.

Much of Trump’s trade offensive has relied on emergency executive powers, which are now the subject of multiple legal challenges in U.S. courts.