In a significant policy announcement, United States President Donald Trump declared that India would face a 25% reciprocal tariff, effective August 1, citing high trade barriers and military ties with Russia.
Posting on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump wrote in all caps: “INDIA WILL THEREFORE BE PAYING A TARIFF OF 25%, PLUS A PENALTY FOR THE ABOVE, STARTING ON AUGUST FIRST. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER. MAGA!”
Trump criticised India’s trade practices, calling
its tariffs “among the highest in the world” and citing “strenuous and obnoxious non-monetary trade barriers.” He also pointed out India’s longstanding military and energy ties with Russia, saying the country continued to import large volumes of Russian energy, “along with China,” even as the global community urged Russia to end the war in Ukraine.
“While India is our friend, we have, over the years, done relatively little business with them because their tariffs are far too high,” he said in his post.