Trump slaps additional 25% tariff on India over Russian oil imports, raising total duty to 50%

New Delhi

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed an executive order imposing an additional 25% tariff on Indian imports, doubling the total duty to 50%. The move comes in retaliation for India’s continued purchase of Russian oil, despite prior warnings from Washington. The new tariffs will take effect 21 days from now, on August 27.

This fresh levy comes on top of a 25% tariff already in place since August 1 — a measure originally imposed in response to India’s tariffs on US goods. In the nine-section order, Trump outlined the legal basis for the new action, citing a "national emergency" under Executive Order 14066, and linking India's oil trade with Russia to threats against US foreign policy and its stance on the Ukraine war. The order specifies that any Indian-origin goods entering the US — unless already in the final mode of transit before the deadline — will be subject to the increased tariffs.

“I determine that it is necessary and appropriate to impose an additional ad valorem duty on imports of articles of India, which is directly or indirectly importing Russian Federation oil,” the order states. Trump also ordered all key departments in his administration to identify other countries importing Russian oil and recommend additional tariffs against them. He defined “Russian Federation oil” broadly — including crude and refined petroleum products — and warned that indirect imports, such as purchases routed through intermediaries or third countries, would also trigger penalties if the oil’s origin could be reasonably traced back to Russia.

This action follows a series of harsh remarks by Trump, who earlier accused India of "profiteering" from discounted Russian oil and reselling it on the global market. “They don’t care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine,” Trump said on Tuesday. “Because of this, I will be substantially raising the Tariff paid by India to the USA. Thank you for your attention to this matter!!!”

India has sharply rejected the US’s criticism, calling it “unjustified and unreasonable” given the continued trade between Russia and several Western nations. New Delhi emphasized that it was being unfairly singled out despite its measured approach to oil procurement in a volatile global market. Russia also weighed in, denouncing Trump’s decision as illegal coercion. “We hear many statements that are in fact threats, attempts to force countries to cut trade relations with Russia. We do not consider such statements to be legal,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said.

The new tariff order comes amid Trump's escalating pressure campaign on Moscow. He has vowed to impose new sanctions on Russia — and on nations that continue to trade with it — unless the Kremlin ends its ongoing war in Ukraine, now in its fourth year. Meanwhile, Trump appeared unmoved by warnings from former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, who on Tuesday urged him not to jeopardize relations with a key ally like India while softening his stance on China.

Trump recently paused tariffs on Beijing for 90 days, a move Haley called inconsistent and strategically flawed. With the August 27 deadline now set, US-India trade tensions appear to be entering a critical phase — one that could have significant implications for global diplomacy, energy markets, and the ongoing realignment of geopolitical alliances.