Trump’s 25% Tariff Hits India for Trade Barriers, Russia Ties

On Wednesday, July 30, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a 25% tariff on Indian goods, effective August 1, along with an unspecified “penalty” for India’s purchase of military equipment and energy from Russia, citing high Indian tariffs and trade barriers as justification. In a Truth Social post, Trump stated, “India is our friend, but their tariffs are far too high, among the highest in the world, and they have the most strenuous and obnoxious non-monetary trade barriers,” adding that India’s Russian trade enables Moscow’s war in Ukraine. The U.S. trade deficit with India was $45.8 billion in 2024, and Trump’s tariffs aim to address this imbalance, though economists warn of potential U.S. consumer price hikes. India’s Trade Ministry is studying the tariffs’ impact, aiming for a balanced bilateral trade agreement, per Times of India.