Trump Slaps India With 25% Tariff, Threatens Penalty Over Russia Ties and ‘Unfair’ Trade Practices

President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that India would face a 25% rate on his exports to the United States from August 1, as well as a sanction not specified on what he described as decades of unfair commercial practices and his in-depth links with Russia.

This decision marks another climbing in Trump’s pricing regime and could express its relations with one of the most strategic Asian partners in Washington.

The rate rate of 25% occurs just a few weeks after Trump imposed a 26% levy on India during which he marked the “Liberation Day”. Although the last figure is one percent lower, it actually rekindles the threat under a different banner.

“India will therefore pay a price of 25%, plus a penalty for the above, from August first,” wrote Trump on Truth Social, insisting that measures are a response both to India protectionist policies and its purchase of Russian oil and military equipment.

“Remember, although India is our friend, over the years, we have done relatively little with them because their prices are far too high, among the highest in the world, and they have the most arduous and odious non-monetary barriers of all countries in all countries,” said Trump, reiterating long-standing complaints regarding the import regime of India.

While India seemed to have dodged the tariff of 26% earlier this year following high -level discussions and Banches diplomacy, Trump’s last decision actually brings this threat, raising questions about the sustainable sustainability. Analysts say that India is now recruited, faced with increasing pressure on its geopolitical balance and its commercial posture.

It is not clear how India will manage the situation, especially since it continues to rely strongly on Russian crude and Russian military material inherited at Russian prices in the midst of its wider strategic autonomy doctrine.

The additional penalty that Trump has mentioned remains not defined, although observers speculate that it could take the form of targeted tasks in specific sectors, even financial restrictions aimed at braking energy trade with Moscow. Earlier this month, Trump threatened to impose secondary prices up to 100% on countries buying Russian oil unless a ceasefire is reached in Ukraine-an unprecedented climbing that would hit the major energy importers like India and China.

“India is the largest energy buyer in Russia, as well as China,” added Trump. “Everything that is not good!”

The announcement also came with a warning concerning the trade deficit of the United States with India, which Trump described as “massive”. He has often justified his unilateral prices as necessary to reduce the deficit and protect the American industry, despite a broad skepticism of economists. Many of them have argued that higher prices ultimately increase the costs for American consumers, while not bringing low -skilled manufacturing jobs that have long been migrated to cheaper labor markets.

“Exporters will not lower prices to compensate for prices. If the Americans want to continue buying their products, they will have to pay the prices. If they do not want to pay higher prices, exporters will only sell their products to consumers outside the United States who do not have to pay the prices, “noted Peter Schiff, Euro Pacific chief economist.

Earlier in the year, Trump said that the world’s global trade deficit is a national emergency, a decision that has given it extended legal authority to impose prices without approval from the congress. This also indicates how trade can continue to be a central pillar of Trump’s political platform before mid-term of 2026, especially since he doubles economic nationalism.

India has not officially responded to the tariff decision, although New Delhi probably weighs its options while trying to preserve trade links with Washington while continuing its pragmatic energy and defense partnerships with Russia. However, without any sign of Trump softening his tone, and the penalty that is still looming, the pressure on the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to intensify in the coming weeks.