NEW DELHI: India has strongly criticised former US President Donald Trump’s decision to raise tariffs on Indian imports to 50%, calling the move “extremely unfortunate.” The Ministry of External Affairs said the move targeted actions that “many countries undertake in their national interest,” and termed it “unfair, unjustified and unreasonable.”
The reaction follows Trump’s signing of an executive order that imposes an additional 25% tariff, on top of the earlier 25%, specifically targeting India over its continued purchases of Russian oil. The US administration accuses India of indirectly aiding Russia’s economy and profiting by reselling the discounted oil.
India’s foreign ministry asserted, “We will take all necessary steps to protect our national interests. Our oil imports are market-driven and aligned with the energy security of 1.4 billion Indians.”
Trump justified the action under Executive Order 14066, claiming it was essential to address the ongoing national emergency caused by the conflict involving Russia. He added that Washington will assess sanctions on other nations purchasing Russian oil after a recent US-Russia envoy meeting in Moscow.
In response, Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi wrote on X, “Trump’s 50% tariff is economic blackmail – an attempt to bully India into an unfair trade deal. The Indian PM must not allow this pressure to compromise the interests of our people.”
The development has sparked debate in trade and diplomatic circles, with experts warning it could strain Indo-US relations further, especially on matters of trade independence and geopolitical alignment.
