'They don't care...': Trump fires fresh salvo at India, vows to 'substantially' raise tariffs over Russian oil

Four days after US President Donald Trump announced a sweeping 25% tariff on all Indian goods exports to the US, effective August 1, and an additional "penalty" on India for indulging in business with Russia in areas of energy and military equipment, he has decided to substantially raise the tariff on India. In his latest post on Truth Social, Trump accused India of buying "massive amounts of Russian oil" and selling it further in open markets. He reiterated his earlier charge, accusing India of ignoring the impact of the Russia-Ukraine war on Ukraine.

"India is not only buying massive amounts of Russian Oil, they are then, for much of the Oil purchased, selling it on the Open Market for big profits. 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!!!" Trump's latest post said.

Trump's statements against India come amid the government's clear stance on keeping the national interest at the top of its priority while discussing bilateral trade terms with the US. The central government on July 30 said it is studying its implications, and that India remains committed to achieving a "fair, balanced and mutually beneficial" trade deal. Hinting at the potential points of contention between India and the US, the Ministry of Commerce & Industry said that for the government, protecting and promoting the welfare of farmers, entrepreneurs, and MSMEs is paramount, and that it'll always give the highest priority to the national interest.

Trump last week announced 25% tariffs on Indian exports to the US and a "penalty" for indulging in business with Russia in areas of energy and military equipment. His statement came as the two countries failed to reach an agreement on bilateral trade, despite five rounds of talks, though talks are still on.

In his July 30 post, Trump acknowledged India as a "friend", though asserting that both countries have done very little business. He accused India of imposing high tariffs on US goods, calling them "strenuous" and "obnoxious". He also accused India of buying arms from Russia and being the largest buyer of energy from Vladimir Putin-led Russia.

On July 31, 2025, he reiterated his earlier charge against India for its relations with Russia, saying branding both as “dead economies” and reiterating his discontent over India’s trade practices. “I don’t care what India does with Russia. They can take their dead economies down together, for all I care...We have done very little business with India; their Tariffs are too high, among the highest in the World. Likewise, Russia and the USA do almost no business together."

Though Trump has made his intentions on imposing tariffs on India clear, trade experts here say these measures could be temporary as the talks between both countries are still on, with the sixth round scheduled for the end of August. The government, despite being hopeful of signing a trade deal with the US, has been resistant to Trump's demands, especially with regard to opening up the country's dairy and agriculture sectors for the US. Some experts, however, think Trump's tariffs on India could disrupt around $129 billion worth of trade between the two nations per year, with smartphones, pharmaceuticals, shrimp and auto parts expected to take the biggest hit.

Notably, India has already signed a mega trade deal with the UK, which allows zero-duty access to 99% of India’s exports to the United Kingdom. The agreement is expected to see bilateral trade between the two countries double from the current $56 billion in the next five years.