President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced an additional 25 percent tariff on India, days after he already imposed a 25 percent levy on the South Asian nation, which is a major trading partner of the United States.
“I find that the Government of India is currently directly or indirectly importing Russian Federation oil,” Trump said in an executive order.
Why It Matters
India is now facing combined tariffs of 50 percent. According to U.S. Census Bureau data from May of this year, India is one of the United States’ top trading partners.
“I don’t care what India does with Russia. They can take their dead economies down together, for all I care. We have done very little business with India, their Tariffs are too high, among the highest in the World,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
AP Photo/Alex Brandon
What To Know
The order also directs Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, in coordination with other senior administration officials, to determine whether any other country is importing Russian Federation oil.
If another country is found to be importing Russian Federation oil, administration officials will recommend what action Trump should take, including whether to impose a 25 percent tariff on imports from that nation.
Why Is Donald Trump Increasing Tariffs on India?
Trump said India is “directly or indirectly importing Russian Federation oil” in the order.
He said the actions and policies of Russia’s government “continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States.”
How Will Consumers Be Impacted?
The U.S. imports various products from India, including pharmaceuticals and electrical components.
Who Pays Tariffs on Imports?
Tariffs on imports are paid by companies importing the goods. The revenue from U.S. tariffs is paid by U.S. importers to the Treasury Department.
What People Are Saying
President Donald Trump, in a Truth Social post on Monday: “India is not only buying massive amounts of Russian Oil, they are then, for much of the Oil purchased, selling it on the Open Market for big profits. 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.”
Indian lawmaker Shashi Tharoor, chair of India’s parliamentary external affairs committee, told reporters last week: “If the worst comes to the worst, we will have to diversify more out of the American market into other markets if we can’t compete in America. We are not without options. I mean, I think we have to understand we want and value the relationship with America, but if America is completely unreasonable in their demands, we will have to go elsewhere.”
What Happens Next
The new tariff is scheduled to take effect 21 days after the date of the order’s signing.
Trump said he may modify the order in light of additional information, recommendations from senior officials or changed circumstances.
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Update 8/6/25, 12:09 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
