News Brief
US President Donald Trump (Representative Image)
The United States issued a draft notice implementing additional 25 per cent tariffs on Indian imports, bringing total duties to 50 per cent starting August 27. The Department of Homeland Security announced the increased levies would apply to Indian products "entered for consumption on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time."
President Trump initially imposed 25 per cent baseline tariffs on Indian goods on 31 July, then doubled them a few days later over India's continued Russian oil purchases, which Washington views as "fueling Russia's war machine" in Ukraine.
US Vice President JD Vance described the tariffs as "aggressive economic leverage" to pressure Russia into ending the war by targeting India, the world's second-largest buyer of Russian oil.
India remains defiant to US pressure, with its envoy to Russia stating Indian companies will "continue buying from wherever they get the best deal," prioritizing energy security for 1.4 billion people.