Washington, D.C./New Delhi: In a significant escalation of trade tensions, US President Donald Trump has stated that he may “substantially” raise tariffs on India within the next 24 hours. The new warning, delivered during an interview with CNBC on Tuesday, follows his recent imposition of a 25% tariff on Indian goods and his earlier public criticism of New Delhi’s close trade relations with Russia.
Speaking to CNBC, President Trump once again reiterated his claim that India has the highest tariffs on US goods in the world, a point he has consistently made to justify his protectionist trade policies.
🇺🇸❗🇮🇳 President Trump says he will raise tariffs on India "substantially" over the next 24 hours. pic.twitter.com/6nGF9H7Zou
— Molo44 🇮🇹🇺🇦 (@MoloWarMonitor) August 5, 2025
“India has not been a good trading partner because they do a lot of business with us, but we don’t do business with them. So we settled on 25 percent, but I think I’m going to raise that rate quite substantially in the next 24 hours,” said Trump.
The President directly linked this potential tariff hike to India’s energy policy, stating, “They’re buying Russian oil and fueling the war machine. And if they are going to do that, I’m not going to be happy.” This accusation mirrors a similar statement he made on Monday, where he also criticized India’s purchase of other military products from Russia.
India and Russia Slam Threats
The US President’s threats have drawn swift and strong reactions from both India and Russia.
Earlier on Tuesday, Russia’s Kremlin slammed Trump’s pressure tactics, with spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stating that such statements against Russian trading partners would be perceived as “threats” against Moscow. Peskov emphasized that sovereign countries have the right to choose their own trading partners, and attempts to force them to sever ties with Russia are “illegitimate.”
In a forceful official rebuttal, the Indian government’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) labeled the US’s threats as “unjustified and unreasonable.” The MEA’s statement accused the US and EU of a double standard, pointing out that while they criticize New Delhi, they themselves continue to engage in trade with Russia.
The MEA’s statement highlighted that India’s imports of Russian oil are a “necessity compelled by global market situation” and are essential to ensure “predictable and affordable energy costs to the Indian consumer.” The official statement further noted, “it is revealing that the very nations criticizing India are themselves indulging in trade with Russia. Unlike our case, such trade is not even a vital national compulsion.”
A History of Tariffs and Strained Relations
This latest threat marks a significant escalation in a tense period for US-India trade relations. Ahead of his August 1 deadline, Trump had already imposed a 25% blanket tariff against India, citing both India’s high rates on US goods and its close ties with Russia, which includes its participation in the BRICS economic bloc. This recent series of events underscores the growing friction as Trump’s administration seeks to reshape global trade dynamics, often using tariffs as a key tool of foreign policy and economic pressure.