Move Coming in 24 Hours: Trump Threatens Steep Tariff Hike on India Over Russian Oil Trade Again
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday doubled down on his threat to increase tariffs on India, citing New Delhi’s continued purchase of Russian crude oil.
In an interview with CNBC, Trump described India as “not a good trading partner” and said he would be “substantially” raising tariffs on Indian goods within the next 24 hours.
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“So we settled on 25 percent but I think I'm going to raise that very substantially over the next 24 hours, because they're buying Russian oil.”
The current tariff rate imposed by the United States on Indian imports is 25%, with the hike expected to be effective from August 7, 2025.
In remarks aimed at India’s energy strategy amid the Ukraine conflict, Trump added: “They are buying Russian oil and fueling the Russian war machine.”
He further claimed that India was reselling Russian oil for profit on international markets.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump earlier wrote: “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.”
Trump’s public criticism of India’s Russian oil trade comes as part of his administration’s broader concerns that such purchases serve as a financial lifeline for Moscow.
According to US officials, India’s energy imports from Russia have emerged as an “irritant” in bilateral trade talks.
So far, there has been no official response from India following Trump’s latest statements.
Earlier, India had defended its purchases of Russian crude in the context of global energy market disruptions, noting that traditional suppliers had diverted oil to Europe during the early stages of the Ukraine war.
India has previously stated that its energy decisions are based on market access and the need to ensure predictable and affordable supplies for its population.
Tuesday’s remarks mark an escalation in rhetoric, with Trump explicitly linking India’s trade relationship with Russia to punitive economic action.
With the 25% tariff already in place, the prospect of further increases within 24 hours could have significant implications for India’s export sectors, particularly in pharmaceuticals, textiles, and auto parts.
The development also adds a new dimension to India-US trade relations, coming amid broader concerns in Europe and Asia about the global spillover effects of the Russia-Ukraine conflict on energy, inflation, and supply chains.