Trump Threatens Steep India Tariff Hike In 24 Hours, Says It’s ‘Fuelling Russia’s War Machine'

Last Updated:August 05, 2025, 18:18 IST

Donald Trump said he was planning to raise tariffs within 24 hours due to India's continued purchase of Russian oil.

US President Donald Trump. (File Photo)

US President Donald Trump hinted at a significant escalation in trade hostilities with India, declaring his intent to “very substantially" increase tariffs within the next 24 hours. The provocation, he asserted, arises from New Delhi’s sustained engagement with Moscow through the continued purchase of Russian oil, a grievance he has voiced earlier as well.

Speaking to CNBC, Donald Trump said, “They have the highest tariff of anybody. We settled on 25% but I think I’m going to raise that very substantially over the next 24 hours because they’re buying Russian oil. They’re fueling the war machine. We do little business with India. They do a lot of business with us."

The remarks follow Donald Trump’s earlier announcement of 25 percent tariffs on India in which he accused New Delhi of not only importing Russian crude in large volumes but reselling it for profit on global markets, all while turning a blind eye to the human cost of the war in Ukraine.

Trump Accuses India Of Reselling Russian Oil

Earlier, Donald Trump posted a strongly worded message on his social media platform Truth Social, accusing India of buying “massive amounts of Russian oil" and reselling it “on the open market for big profits." He wrote, “They don’t care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine. Because of this, I will be substantially raising the Tariff paid by India to the USA. Thank you for your attention to this matter!!!"

India Hits Back On Trump Tariffs

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) responded with a staunch rebuttal, dismissing the US President’s assertions as both unfounded and politically expedient. India, the MEA said, turned to Russian crude only after the West, in the wake of the Ukraine crisis, redirected traditional supply lines to secure its own domestic energy needs.

“The United States at that time actively encouraged such imports by India for strengthening global energy markets’ stability," the ministry stated. The MEA further highlighted the West’s own deep and ongoing economic entanglements with Russia. In 2024, the European Union recorded €67.5 billion in trade in goods with Russia, along with €17.2 billion in services. EU imports of Russian liquefied natural gas reached a record 16.5 million tonnes that year- figures that dwarf India’s comparatively modest trade volumes.

The United States, too, remains economically tethered to Moscow, continuing to import uranium hexafluoride for its nuclear sector, palladium for its electric vehicle industry and a variety of fertilizers and industrial chemicals, the MEA said, adding, “In this background, the targeting of India is unjustified and unreasonable. Like any major economy, India will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security."

Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

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