The United States has formally issued a draft notice to India ahead of the August 27 deadline to impose 50% tariffs on Indian products, a move announced earlier this month by President Donald Trump.
According to the notice, the new tariffs will apply to goods “entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after 12:01 AM EDT, August 27, 2025.” The decision effectively doubles the levy from 25% to 50%, targeting Indian imports linked to New Delhi’s continued purchase of Russian oil.
The White House hopes the steep duties will pressure Russian President Vladimir Putin to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine by curbing Moscow’s energy trade.
India, however, has strongly opposed what it calls “secondary sanctions”, arguing that its energy policies are based on national interest and strategic autonomy.
Reacting to the development, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared in Ahmedabad that India would not compromise on the interests of farmers, cattle rearers, and small businesses.
“The pressure on us may increase, but we will bear it all. For us, the interests of our people are paramount,” Modi said while invoking both Lord Krishna and Mahatma Gandhi as guiding forces for India’s resilience.
Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar stressed that India’s stance on energy was being misrepresented. “This is not an oil dispute. Larger importers, including China and European nations, are not being held to the same standards,” he said, underscoring that India will continue to make sovereign choices in line with its national priorities.
