The Trump administration has officially announced its intentions to impose an additional 25 percent tariff on products coming from India to begin at 12:01 a.m. (EST) on August 27.
In a Department of Homeland Security notice, the Secretary of Homeland Security indicated that such decisions resulted from "threats to the United States by the Government of the Russian Federation" with India included in Washington's global response strategy.
"The duties set out in the Annex to this document are effective with respect to products of India that are entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after 12:01 am Eastern Daylight Time on August 27, 2025," it read.
Relations between New Delhi and Washington soured further when US President Donald Trump escalated tariffs on Indian exports to 50 percent, which took into account a punitive 25 percent duty following India's very heavy Russian crude oil import purchases.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated on Monday (Aug 26) just two days before the punitive US measures would take effect that India would accept the economic burden while continuing to strengthen its resilience.
"No matter how much pressure comes, we will keep increasing our strength to withstand it," he said at a public rally in Ahmedabad's Nikol area. The Prime Minister stressed that his government will never let harm come to small entrepreneurs, farmers, and livestock rearers.
In a veiled dig at US tariffs, PM Modi said, "Aaj duniya me arthik swarth wali rajniti (hai), sab koi apna karne me lage hain. Usse hum bhali bhanti dekh rahe hain (Today in this world, there is politics of economic self-interest, everyone looks out for themselves. We are witnessing this)."
"From the soil of Ahmedabad, I wish to tell you, promise you from the land of Gandhi, that the interests of small entrepreneurs, shopkeepers, farmers and livestock rearers are of utmost priority for Modi... Dabav kitna hi kyun na aaye, hum jhelne ki apni takat badhate jayenge (No matter how much pressure comes, we will keep increasing our strength to withstand it)," he added.
