Trump Says US Does ‘Little Business’ With India As He Warns To Raise Tariffs In 24 Hours

Last Updated:August 05, 2025, 18:08 IST

Donald Trump said he was planning to raise tariffs within 24 hours due to India's continued purchase of Russian oil.

US President Donald Trump. (File Photo)

US President Donald Trump warned of a sharp escalation in trade tensions with India, saying he plans to “very substantially" raise tariffs within 24 hours in response to New Delhi’s continued purchase of Russian oil. Talking to CNBC, Donald Trump said, “They have the highest tariff of anybody. We settled on 25%, but I think I’m going to raise that very substantially over the next 24 hours because they’re buying Russian oil. They’re fueling the war machine. We do little business with India. They do a lot of business with us."

The remarks follow Donald Trump’s earlier announcement of 25 percent tariffs on India in which he accused New Delhi of not only importing Russian crude in large volumes but reselling it for profit on global markets, all while turning a blind eye to the human cost of the war in Ukraine.

Trump Accuses India Of Reselling Russian Oil 

Earlier, Donald Trump had posted a strongly worded message on his social media platform Truth Social, accusing India of buying “massive amounts of Russian oil" and reselling it “on the open market for big profits." He wrote, “They don’t care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine. Because of this, I will be substantially raising the Tariff paid by India to the USA. Thank you for your attention to this matter!!!"

India Hits Back On Trump Tariffs

In response to the tariff warning, the Ministry of External Affairs issued a firm statement, rejecting the US president’s criticism and defending its energy policy as a “national necessity." The statement noted that India began importing Russian crude in larger volumes only after Western countries redirected their own purchases to meet urgent domestic energy needs following the outbreak of the Ukraine war.

“The United States at that time actively encouraged such imports by India for strengthening global energy markets’ stability," the MEA said, adding that current criticism from both Washington and Brussels appears selective and politically motivated.

The ministry also pointed to the continuing economic engagement between Russia and the West. In 2024, the European Union recorded €67.5 billion in bilateral trade in goods with Russia, in addition to €17.2 billion in services. Imports of liquefied natural gas by EU countries reached a record 16.5 million tonnes that year- far exceeding India’s own trade with Russia.

Similarly, the United States continues to import uranium hexafluoride for its nuclear sector, palladium for electric vehicles and various fertilizers and chemicals from Russia, the MEA said, adding, “In this background, the targeting of India is unjustified and unreasonable. Like any major economy, India will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security."

Location :

Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published:

August 05, 2025, 18:04 IST

News world Trump Says US Does ‘Little Business’ With India As He Warns To Raise Tariffs In 24 Hours

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