New Delhi Chronicle Desk
New Delhi: In a sharp escalation of trade tensions, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a 25% tariff on Indian exports to the United States, effective August 1, along with an unspecified additional penalty. The move, revealed on Trump’s social media platform Truth Social, comes despite his repeated reference to India as “our friend.”
The U.S. President justified the decision by criticizing India’s “excessively high tariffs” and accusing New Delhi of purchasing the majority of its defense equipment and oil from Russia, a stance that has increasingly strained Washington’s patience.
Reciprocal Tariff Deadline Hits India
The tariff hike aligns with an August 1 deadline set earlier this year for reciprocal tariffs targeting several nations, including India. While Trump initially announced steeper duties in April, those measures were temporarily reduced to allow for negotiations. With talks failing to meet U.S. demands, the White House is now pushing ahead with the trade penalties.
Trump’s Criticism of India’s Trade Policy
In a strongly worded post, President Trump stated:
“While India is our friend, we have, over the years, done relatively little business with them because their tariffs are far too high, among the highest in the world. They also maintain the most stringent and obstructive non-monetary trade barriers of any country.”Trump further accused both India and China of indirectly funding Russia’s war effort, vowing that he could “end the conflict within 24 hours” if re-elected in January.
Implications for U.S.-India Relations
This latest move threatens to test the strategic partnership between Washington and New Delhi, especially as India continues to balance ties between the West and Moscow. Indian officials have yet to issue a formal response, but trade experts warn the new tariffs could impact key export sectors, from pharmaceuticals and textiles to information technology services.
