The Trump Administration is moving ahead with plans to sharply increase tariffs on Indian imports, signaling further strain in U.S.-India trade ties as Washington seeks to pressure Russia into ending its war in Ukraine.
A draft notice published Monday by the Department of Homeland Security outlined that a 50% tariff will apply to Indian goods “entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on August 27, 2025.” The levies will double the existing 25% tariff on Indian products.
President Donald Trump first announced the move earlier this month, linking it to India’s continued purchases of Russian oil. The administration has argued that secondary tariffs are necessary to squeeze Russian President Vladimir Putin’s revenues and push him toward peace negotiations.
The Indian government has condemned the measures as unfair and politically motivated, while suggesting that progress in Ukraine peace talks could render the tariffs unnecessary. New Delhi has maintained its position that it will continue importing Russian oil despite U.S. pressure.
Trump has made several high-profile diplomatic efforts in recent weeks, including meetings with Putin in Alaska and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy at the White House. However, his attempt to broker a direct meeting between the two leaders has so far failed.
“That’s going to be up to them,” Trump told reporters on Monday. “It takes two to tango, I always say, and they should meet.” He added that he was uncertain whether a face-to-face meeting between Putin and Zelenskiy would ever materialize.
The White House has also hinted at broader punitive steps if no progress is made. Trump warned of “very big consequences” in the coming weeks, suggesting the U.S. could impose additional tariffs or sanctions on Russia’s trading partners. So far, Washington has avoided targeting China, another major buyer of Russian crude.
Meanwhile, Putin has held talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has sought to strengthen ties with both Russia and China amid growing uncertainty over U.S. policy. India remains a significant purchaser of Russian oil, a stance that could deepen friction with Washington if tariffs are expanded further.
