August 7, 2025 | 01:42 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order imposing an additional 25 percent tariff on imports from India, citing New Delhi’s continued purchase of Russian oil.
The White House announced the move on Wednesday, stating it is part of Washington’s response to what Trump called a “national emergency” caused by Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Trump argued that India’s oil trade with Russia undermines U.S. foreign policy and national security. “I find that the Government of India is currently directly or indirectly importing Russian Federation oil,” Trump wrote in the order, as quoted by Al Jazeera.
The order, which takes effect in 21 days, will raise the total U.S. tariff on Indian goods to 50 percent—matching the level imposed only on Brazil.
India’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs swiftly condemned the move, calling the tariffs “unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable.” The ministry questioned why India is being penalized while other nations importing Russian oil are not.
“We have already made clear our position on these issues, including the fact that our imports are based on market factors and done with the overall objective of ensuring the energy security of 1.4 billion people of India,” the statement said.
"It is therefore extremely unfortunate that the U.S. should choose to impose additional tariffs on India for actions that several other countries are also taking in their own national interest.”
Earlier in the week, Trump had threatened to “substantially” raise tariffs on Indian goods over its Russian oil trade.
India responded by defending its actions as necessary for maintaining affordable energy prices. The ministry also noted that, in the early days of the Ukraine war, Washington had encouraged India to diversify its energy supplies to help stabilize global markets.
India turned to Russian oil after European countries redirected their purchases following the outbreak of the war. Trump has now set a 10-day deadline for Russia to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine, and the tariffs are seen as part of a broader pressure campaign on Moscow.
Trade Talks Falter as Relations Sour
The new tariffs come after five rounds of failed trade negotiations between Washington and New Delhi. U.S. Vice President JD Vance had traveled to India in April to push for a deal, but talks collapsed.
Analysts warn that U.S.-India relations are facing their most serious strain in years. India’s inability to strike a deal stands in contrast with Pakistan, which secured lower tariffs in July.
Further complicating matters, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to visit China later this month—his first in over seven years. Modi will attend a security summit in Tianjin, where Russian officials are also expected.
Despite recent tensions, Trump and Modi have shared a warm personal relationship. Modi was one of the first world leaders to visit Trump after his second-term inauguration in January. Their ties go back to Trump’s first term, when the U.S. president hosted the “Howdy Modi” rally in Texas.
Modi has publicly supported Trump’s “Make America Great Again” slogan, even offering a variation: “Make India Great Again.”
However, Trump has repeatedly criticized India’s economic policies as unfair to the United States and vowed to narrow the trade gap with foreign partners.
U.S. government data shows that in 2024, India exported nearly US$87.3 billion in goods and services to the U.S., while American exports to India totaled only US$41.5 billion.
Tensions between the two countries have further escalated after Trump claimed he was mediating peace between India and Pakistan following a military standoff in May, a claim the Modi administration flatly denied.
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