Trump rules out trade talks with India amid tariff dispute

U.S. President Donald Trump has said there will be no trade negotiations with India until a dispute over tariffs is resolved, following his administration’s decision to double tariffs on Indian imports.

When pressed by ANI at the Oval Office, whether he expected talks to resume in light of the new 50% tariff, Mr. Trump said he did not.

“No, not until we get it resolved,” he replied.

India and the U.S. teams had concluded the fifth round of talks for the agreement in July in Washington, ahead of the August 1 deadline for Mr. Trump’s tariff suspension. A U.S. team was to visit India on August 25 for the next round of negotiations for the proposed bilateral trade agreement between the two countries.

But the White House on Wednesday (August 6, 2025) issued an Executive Order imposing an additional 25% in tariffs on Indian goods, raising the total levy to 50%. The administration cited national security and foreign policy concerns, pointing specifically to India’s ongoing imports of Russian oil.

The order claims that these imports, whether direct or via intermediaries, present an “unusual and extraordinary threat” to the United States and justify emergency economic measures.

According to US officials, the initial 25% tariff came into effect on 7 August. The additional levy will take effect in 21 days and apply to all Indian goods entering US ports — with exceptions for items already in transit and certain exempt categories.