President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday morning that he is authorizing 25% tariffs on India, which will take effect Aug. 1, due to the country’s import of Russian energy and military equipment.
“Remember, while India is our friend, we have, over the years, done relatively little business with them because their Tariffs are far too high, among the highest in the World, and they have the most strenuous and obnoxious non-monetary Trade Barriers of any Country,” the president said in a post on Truth Social.
“Also, they have always bought a vast majority of their military equipment from Russia, and are Russia’s largest buyer of ENERGY, along with China, at a time when everyone wants Russia to STOP THE KILLING IN UKRAINE — ALL THINGS NOT GOOD! INDIA WILL THEREFORE BE PAYING A TARIFF OF 25%, PLUS A PENALTY FOR THE ABOVE, STARTING ON AUGUST FIRST,” he continued.
TRUMP TARIFF LETTERS: WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE NEW TRADE DEALS, RATES AND ‘LIBERATION DAY’ PAUSE
Trump teased the tariffs on Tuesday despite characterizing Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a good friend.
“I think so,” Trump said when asked to confirm reports that India’s tariffs could range between 20% and 25%. “India has been a good friend, but India has charged, basically, more tariffs than almost any other country. You know that, right?”