Washington D.C., August 2025
U.S. President Donald J. Trump, currently serving his second term in office, has announced his intention to significantly increase tariffs on Indian imports in response to India’s oil trade practices involving Russia. In a strongly worded statement issued from the White House, President Trump accused India of profiting from the ongoing conflict in Ukraine by purchasing discounted Russian oil and reselling it on the international market.
“India is not only buying massive amounts of Russian oil, they are then, for much of the oil purchased, selling it on the open market for big profits,” said President Trump. “They don’t care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian war machine.”
President Trump stated that such actions run counter to international efforts aimed at pressuring Russia to end its military aggression. He added that while the U.S. respects India as a strategic partner, its economic behavior amid the war cannot go unchecked.
As a consequence, Trump declared that the United States will be “substantially raising the tariff paid by India to the USA,” signaling a direct economic response to what he views as India’s failure to align with global sanctions and moral responsibility.
The proposed tariff increase could impact a wide range of Indian exports to the U.S., including pharmaceuticals, textiles, and technology components. While no specific tariff percentages were revealed, trade analysts expect the move to trigger diplomatic responses from New Delhi.
Trump’s statement comes amid rising tensions globally over the ongoing war in Ukraine and widening divisions among major powers regarding their stance toward Russia.
“Thank you for your attention to this matter!” the President concluded in his message.
India has yet to issue an official response to the announcement.