‘Will raise tariff substantially in 24 hours’: Donald Trump fires fresh salvo; says India ‘not good trading associate’

Donald Trump’s tariff menace

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday reiterated his stand that he might be elevating tariff charges on India. In an interview to CNBC, Trump mentioned India is a ‘not a good’ trading associate. Trump reportedly mentioned that he would elevating tariffs on India in the following 24 hours. US has imposed a tariff price of 25% on India which is meant to be efficient August 7, 2025.“India has not been a good trading partner, because they do a lot of business with us, but we don’t do business with them. 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,” he mentioned in the interview.“With India, what people don’t like to say is they have the highest tariffs of anybody. We do very little business with India,” Trump mentioned. “India is not a good trading partner,” he added, earlier than linking India’s continued vitality commerce with Moscow to the continuing conflict in Ukraine: “They are buying Russian oil and fueling the Russian war machine.”Also Read | Trump’s tariff threats & jibes: India calls out US, EU hypocrisy in clear message, says ‘revealing that countries criticizing…’ – high 10 factors

Trump’s tariff menace on India & Russia oil angle

Trump shared a message on Truth Social on Monday saying: “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. Thank you for your attention to this matter!!!”(*24*)Donald Trump administration officers have mentioned that India’s buy of Russian crude oil has emerged as an ‘irritant’ in commerce deal talks. Trump administration officers have even accused India of ‘financing’ Russia’s conflict in opposition to Ukraine by means of its crude oil procurement.Till a couple of days in the past, Trump had been claiming that the US is nearing a commerce cope with India. However, problems with agriculture, dairy and GM crops continued to be sticky factors. India has hardened its stance in opposition to opening these sectors. While saying a 25% tariff price for India, Trump had warned of an extra penalty for India’s oil and arms commerce with Russia.

India continues to purchase Russia crude oil

The ministry of exterior affairs has responded to US threats of upper taiffs by saying that while India has acquired criticism from the US and European Union about Russian oil purchases, these choices had been necessitated by the diversion of standard provides to Europe through the disaster. The MEA famous that the US had beforehand endorsed India’s imports of Russian crude oil, contemplating them helpful for world vitality market stability.Also Read | Amidst Donald Trump’s tariff threats, India plans massive! Rs 20,000 crore mission being readied for exporters; ‘Brand India’ to be promotedRegarding the criticism, India has made it clear that its vitality procurement technique focuses on guaranteeing reasonably priced and secure provides for its inhabitants, notably given present world market situations. India has identified that the nations criticising these purchases are themselves participating in Russian commerce, which, in contrast to India’s case, is not pushed by important nationwide necessities.The response emphasised that concentrating on India in this context lacks justification and logic. “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,” the MEA assertion mentioned.In the meantime, India continues to get crude oil imports from Russia, a number of ships discharging oil over the weekend.