Trump Proposes Increase in Tariffs on Energy Partner India, Collaborated with Russia
In a recent development, U.S. President Donald Trump has announced plans to impose a significant tariff on Indian imports, in response to India's continued purchase and sale of Russian oil during the ongoing Ukraine conflict.
The proposed tariff is an additional ad valorem duty of 25 percent on all Indian imports into the United States, effective for goods entered into the U.S. customs territory or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption starting 21 days after the order's date at 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time. Goods already loaded and in transit before that time, or entered before September 17, 2025, are exempt from the new tariff.
Trump's announcement comes amidst concerns over the people being killed in Ukraine by Russia's war machine. The U.S. President has expressed his desire for a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, setting a deadline for the ten-day truce that began on Tuesday.
In a statement made on his Truth Social platform, Trump accused India of buying massive amounts of Russian oil and selling a significant portion on the open market at high profits. He also stated that the tariff threat aims to further weaken the economic base of the Kremlin and put more pressure on Russia's major energy consumers, including India and China.
However, the exact nature of the sanctions that Trump intends to impose on Russia's trading partners if the deadline passes without result remains unclear. The U.S. President did not specify the exact amount of the increased tariffs that India will have to pay to the U.S.
This tariff threat marks a continuation of Trump's tough stance on India's oil purchases from Russia. In late July, Trump had already threatened India with tariffs and a "penalty," citing India's high tariffs and its excessive purchases of Russian oil as reasons for the move.
At the time, India was the largest buyer of Russian energy, along with China. The U.S. President's announcement is intended to put more pressure on Russia's major energy consumers, with the aim of weakening the Kremlin's economic base.
The deadline set by the U.S. President for achieving a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine is still running. It remains to be seen whether the increased tariffs will lead to a change in India's oil purchasing policies or whether Russia will comply with the U.S. President's demands for a ceasefire.
[1] Source: Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) website.
- Amidst ongoing politics and policy-and-legislation, the U.S. President's announcement of a 25% tariff on Indian imports could impact general-news headlines, such as energy trade, as it aims to put pressure on Russia's major energy consumers like India.
- The escalation in war-and-conflicts between Russia and Ukraine, along with energy trade policies, could be a key point of discussion in various political arenas, as the U.S. President's energy-related tariff threat on India could influence both policy-and-legislation and general-news narratives.
