<h3 data-start="211" data-end="276">🇮🇳🛢️ India Pushes Back Against Trump's 50% Tariff Blow</h3>
In what marks a significant escalation in trade tensions between <a title="India" href="https://www.benefitnews24.com/economy/india-outpaces-us-in-global-growth-share-rbi-chief/17500" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New Delhi</a> and Washington, India has responded firmly to <a title="US" href="https://www.benefitnews24.com/business/trump-targets-india-over-russian-oil-links/17424" target="_blank" rel="noopener">US</a> President Donald Trump&rsquo;s unilateral decision to impose an additional 25% tariff on Indian imports&mdash;specifically targeting crude oil transactions involving Russia. With this, the total tariff burden now stands at a steep 50%, sharply escalating the stakes in an already fragile economic and geopolitical environment.
India, through a detailed statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), condemned the fresh tariffs as "unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable," warning that it would take &ldquo;all actions necessary to protect national interests.&rdquo;
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While Washington has justified its decision as part of a broader attempt to&nbsp;pressurise Russia to agree to a ceasefire in the ongoing war in Ukraine, New Delhi has pushed back, describing the tariffs as a misguided response that punishes a sovereign country's energy needs.
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&ldquo;We have already made clear our position&hellip; our imports are based on market factors and with the overall objective of ensuring energy security for 1.4 billion Indians,&rdquo; the MEA&rsquo;s statement read, adding that India&rsquo;s purchases were &ldquo;in line with national interest&rdquo; and not ideologically driven.
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The 25% hike comes as a continuation of President Trump&rsquo;s aggressive tariff-first approach, reminiscent of the earlier trade wars that rattled global supply chains. But the decision to single out India&rsquo;s oil trade&mdash;when many Western countries continue to maintain energy and commodity ties with Moscow&mdash;has left Indian diplomats and policymakers puzzled and provoked.
The Foreign Ministry reiterated that such discriminatory actions were counterproductive and selective, noting that &ldquo;unlike other countries, India&rsquo;s trade with Russia is a vital national compulsion,&rdquo; not a strategic luxury. The response, while measured, sent a clear message that New Delhi will not be strong-armed into altering its sovereign policy decisions under external pressure.
<h3 data-start="2336" data-end="2392">🛢️ Energy Security at the Core of India's Stand</h3>
At the heart of India&rsquo;s pushback is a longstanding position: energy affordability and predictability are essential for its growing economy. Russian oil, often sold at discounted prices due to Western sanctions, has become an important component in India's energy mix since the Ukraine conflict began.
New Delhi's response reflects not only an economic necessity but a growing strategic confidence. India has consistently refused to toe any single geopolitical line, opting instead for strategic autonomy&mdash;an approach that has become more assertive under recent administrations.
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ALSO READ:https://www.benefitnews24.com/business/trump-imposes-additional-25-tariff-on-imports/17510
<h3 data-start="2989" data-end="3037">🌍 Wider Implications for Bilateral Ties</h3>
The Trump administration&rsquo;s move risks further complicating Indo-US relations, which have otherwise witnessed convergence on defence, technology, and Indo-Pacific strategies. However, trade remains a sticking point, particularly as India continues to assert its independent foreign policy in a multipolar world.
For many observers, the latest tariff imposition is not just about oil. It&rsquo;s about influence, alignment, and the limits of pressure diplomacy. And India, as it has demonstrated, is unwilling to compromise on core interests&mdash;even if that means redefining the tone of engagement with its most powerful bilateral partner.

US President Donald Trump (on left) in conversation with Indian PM Narendra Modi (on right)

Fresh 25% US tariff pushes total impact to 50%, India calls move 'unfair and unjustified'

India Strikes Back at Trump's Tariff Gambit

Fresh 25% US tariff pushes total impact to 50%, India calls move 'unfair and unjustified'

August 7, 2025 | 02:58 IST