India’s foreign ministry condemned Trump’s tariff announcement Wednesday, calling the move “unfair, unjustified and unreasonable”.
The ministry previously said India began importing oil from Russia as traditional supplies were diverted to Europe over the war – noting that Washington had “actively encouraged” such imports to strengthen “global energy market stability”.
But Trump recently raised pressure on India over the oil purchases, threatening new tariffs as part of a campaign to force Moscow into ending its devastating invasion of Ukraine.
India’s national security adviser was in Moscow on Wednesday, media in New Delhi reported, coinciding with US envoy Steve Witkoff’s visit.
The 25% additional tariff is notably lower than a 100% level Trump floated last month when he told Russia to end the war in Ukraine within 50 days or face massive new economic sanctions.
The Republican said at the time that these would be “secondary tariffs” targeting Russia’s remaining trade partners, seeking to impede Moscow’s ability to survive already sweeping Western sanctions.
“This marks a low point in US-India relations,” said Farwa Aamer, the Asia Society Policy Institute’s director of South Asia Initiatives.
She expects domestic pressure for India to accede to US demands, but said “this will be a tough road to navigate”.
Tariff turmoil
Trump has also separately taken aim at Brazil over the trial of his right-wing ally, former president Jair Bolsonaro – who is accused of planning a coup.
US tariffs on various Brazilian goods surged from 10% to 50% on Wednesday, although broad exemptions, including for orange juice and civil aircraft, are expected to soften the blow.
Brazil took the first formal step on Wednesday at the World Trade Organisation to begin dispute proceedings against the tariffs, government sources told AFP.
Come Thursday, a new wave of tariffs impacting dozens of other economies, from the European Union to Taiwan, is set to kick in.
These updated “reciprocal” tariffs, meant to address trade practices Washington deems unfair, go up to 41% for Syria.
Major US trading partners face varying increases from a current 10% level, starting at 15% for economies like the EU, Japan and South Korea.
Countries not targeted by these “reciprocal” tariff hikes continue facing a 10% levy Trump imposed in April.
Trump’s plans have sparked a rush to avert the steeper duties, with Switzerland’s President Karin Keller-Sutter hurrying to Washington before the Thursday deadline.
Though she secured a meeting with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, it was unclear if she would meet Trump or any top economic officials.
Her Alpine country faces a 39% duty on many exports. While Switzerland’s key pharmaceutical sector has been spared for now, Trump has said a potential separate tariff could eventually rise to 250%.
Some of Trump’s sweeping tariffs face legal challenges over his use of emergency economic powers, with the cases likely to ultimately reach the Supreme Court.
- Agence France-Presse
