India Hits Back at Trump’s 25% Tariff Hike: ‘Unfair, Unjustified, and Unreasonable’
US President Donald Trump has announced an additional 25% ad valorem duty on imports from India, citing the country’s ongoing purchase of Russian crude oil.
India has strongly objected to the United States’ decision to impose further tariffs in response to its continued procurement of Russian oil, terming the move as “unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable.”
In a firmly worded statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) noted that the US had recently “targeted India’s oil imports from Russia,” even though New Delhi had clearly stated its stance on the matter.
“Our imports are dictated by market considerations and are carried out with the overarching aim of ensuring the energy security of 1.4 billion Indian citizens,” the statement stressed.
Calling the US move “deeply regrettable,” the MEA highlighted that several other countries are also continuing to import Russian crude as per their respective national interests. It said that selectively penalising India amounted to discrimination, and reaffirmed that the government would take “all necessary measures to protect the country’s national interest.”
President Trump’s executive order, released on the White House website, stated that India is “currently importing Russian Federation oil either directly or indirectly,” and claimed that it is “necessary and appropriate” to impose punitive tariffs in response.
The newly announced 25% tariff, which links India’s energy engagement with Russia to its trade relations with the US, will come into force 21 days from the date of the order. This is in addition to a separate 25% tariff, already scheduled for implementation on August 7, aimed at reducing the US trade imbalance with India.
Earlier this week, President Trump had alleged that India is purchasing large quantities of discounted Russian crude and reselling it for profit, posting on Truth Social that “they don’t care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian war machine.”
