US President Trump announces 25% tariff on India plus penalty for buying Russian oil from August 1

Two days before the US reciprocal tariff deadline, US President Donald Trump confirmed on Wednesday that India will be facing a 25% tariff on its exports, effective August 1, 2025, in the light of no trade deal finalisation between the two countries yet. "India will therefore be paying a tariff of 25%, plus a penalty for the above, starting on August 1st. Thank you for your attention to this matter," the two-time president said. In a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump slammed India for its long-standing trade practices and foreign policy alignments, particularly its close ties with Russia.
"Remember, 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 — and they have the most strenuous and obnoxious non-monetary trade barriers of any country," Trump wrote.
The Republican leader also went on to highlight India's continued military and energy partnerships with Russia, calling them incompatible with global efforts to isolate Moscow over the war in Ukraine. "They have always bought a vast majority of their military equipment from Russia, and are Russia’s largest buyer of energy, along with China, at a time when everyone wants Russia to stop the killing in Ukraine — all things not good!," he said.