WASHINGTON: United States President Donald Trump said on Wednesday (Jul 30) that imports from India will face 25 per cent tariffs, while also announcing an unspecified “penalty” for New Delhi’s purchases of Russian weapons and energy.
The measures will kick in on Friday, Trump posted on his Truth Social platform, adding to a bevy of other tariff hikes set to take effect the same day.
In a separate post, Trump said the Aug 1 deadline “stands strong, and will not be extended”.
Trump has issued multiple delays to his so-called “reciprocal” tariffs since first announcing them in early April, while instituting an interim 10 per cent baseline.
The 25 per cent tariff on India would be marginally lower than the rate announced in April, but is higher than those of other Asian countries that have struck preliminary trade agreements with Washington.
India, the world’s most populous country, was one of the first few major economies to engage the Trump administration in broader trade talks.
But six months later, Trump’s sweeping demands and India’s reluctance to fully open its agricultural and dairy sectors have so far prevented New Delhi from sealing a deal.
“Remember, while India is our friend, we have, over the years, done relatively little business with them because their Tariffs are far too high, among the highest in the World, and they have the most strenuous and obnoxious non-monetary Trade Barriers of any Country,” Trump said on Wednesday morning.
He added that India has “always bought a vast majority of their military equipment from Russia, and are Russia’s largest buyer of ENERGY, along with China, at a time when everyone wants Russia to STOP THE KILLING IN UKRAINE”.
In addition to the 25 per cent tariff, India will face “a penalty for the above”, Trump said, without any specification.
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