U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday imposed a fresh 25% tariff on Indian imports in response to New Delhi’s continued purchase of Russian oil, a key revenue stream for Moscow’s ongoing war in Ukraine.
The new tariff, which will take effect in three weeks, adds to a separate 25% duty already set to begin Thursday, according to an executive order released by the White House. The measure is part of Trump’s broader effort to penalize countries that are “directly or indirectly importing Russian Federation oil.”
“This is about accountability,” the order states, warning that further penalties could target other nations seen as helping Russia circumvent sanctions. Exemptions remain in place for certain categories, including steel, aluminum, and potentially pharmaceuticals.
The move marks a sharp escalation in Washington’s pressure on India, which has maintained robust energy ties with Moscow despite Western efforts to isolate Russia economically since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Trump had earlier signaled that additional sanctions on Russia would follow if Moscow failed to show progress toward a peace agreement with Kyiv by Friday.
India has pushed back strongly against the U.S. measures. Its foreign ministry called the pressure “unjustified and unreasonable,” vowing to defend the country’s economic interests.
The diplomatic tension comes amid high-level visits, with India’s National Security Adviser in Moscow on Wednesday and U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff in New Delhi, signaling intense behind-the-scenes negotiations as global geopolitical fault lines deepen.
Written By Rodney Mbua
