Trump 50% Tariffs on India Take Effect, Straining Relations

President Donald Trump has doubled tariffs on imports from India to 50%, a move that has significantly strained the strategic partnership between the two countries. Initially set at 25%, these tariffs were increased as punishment for India’s purchase of Russian oil, contributing to one of the highest tariff rates imposed by the U.S. on any country. This escalation risks undermining decades of improving ties, with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemning the tariffs as an act of economic selfishness aimed at protecting farmers and small businesses. The tariffs come amid a broader context of the Trump administration’s global trade war and efforts to limit Russia’s economic gains from oil sales. Despite the tariffs, India remains a vital economic partner and a key player in the Indo-Pacific region, with substantial trade volumes between the two nations. The U.S. has also recently reached tariff agreements with the European Union, highlighting the complex environment of international trade negotiations under Trump’s presidency.