Trump Tells Israel To "Finish The Job", Blames Hamas "Death Wish" For Gaza Ceasefire Standoff
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Indian Express
11 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Trump hits India with 25% tariff plus a Russia penalty
Even as India and the US negotiate a trade agreement, President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced a 25 per cent tariff on Indian goods from August 1, with an additional but unspecified 'penalty' for its defence and energy imports from Russia. In a post on social media platform Truth Social, Trump said India has 'the most strenuous and obnoxious non-monetary Trade Barriers of any Country'. India's Commerce and Industry Ministry said the government had taken note of Trump's statement and is 'studying its implications'. 'India and the US have been engaged in negotiations on concluding a fair, balanced and mutually beneficial bilateral trade agreement over the last few months. We remain committed to that objective. The government attaches the utmost importance to protecting and promoting the welfare of our farmers, entrepreneurs, and MSMEs,' the ministry said in a statement. The government will take 'all steps necessary to secure our national interest, as has been the case with other trade agreements including the latest Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement with the UK,' the ministry said. Hours later, Trump hardened the rhetoric. Speaking to reporters in the White House after his announcement, Trump also took note of India's BRICS membership, terming the bloc as 'an attack on the dollar and we are not going to let anybody attack the dollar'. 'Prime Minister Modi is a friend of mine, but they don't do very much business with us. They sell a lot to us but we don't buy from them…because the tariffs are so high. They have one of the highest tariffs in the world. Now, they are willing to cut it very substantially. But we will see what happens. We are talking to India now, we will see what happens. It doesn't matter too much whether we have a deal or whether we charge them a certain tariff. But you will know at the end of this week,' Trump said. The announcement of the 25 per cent tariff plus a 'penalty' comes ahead of the visit of US officials to India later next month on August 25 for the next round of negotiations over the proposed bilateral trade agreement. The fifth round of talks between India and US were concluded last week in Washington. Trump's decision to announce the tariff and penalty on Indian goods comes two days before his August 1 deadline, when the reciprocal tariffs announced on several countries will come into effect. The decision to announce the 25 per cent tariff is being seen as a way to pressure India into agreeing to the demands made by the US. White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett was reported to have said on Wednesday that Trump has been frustrated with how the trade deal negotiations with India have gone and 'believes his 25 per cent tariff announcement will help the situation,' news agency Reuters reported. At 25 per cent, the tariff on India is just below the 26 per cent reciprocal rate Trump had announced in early April. However, it is higher than the levels agreed between the US and Asian countries such as Vietnam (20 per cent) and Indonesia (19 per cent). In his post on Truth Social, the US President also said that India would face a 'penalty' in addition to the 25 per cent tariff because of its imports of Russian energy items and defence equipment. The proposed 'penalty' for the import of Russian goods marks the first use of secondary tariffs by the US. '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,' Trump said in his post. India's import of crude oil from Russia has surged in recent years, rising to 35-40 per cent of its total purchases from less than 1 per cent prior to the invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, which sent global crude oil prices sharply higher. After China, India is the second-largest buyer of Russian crude oil. Historically, India's oil purchases have primarily been from Iraq and Saudi Arabia. The size of the 'penalty' announced by Trump was not immediately known. According to Reuters, Kevin Hassett told reporters on Wednesday that Trump and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer 'will have more information 'shortly' on the additional penalty'. 'Massive trade deficit' In a second post on Truth Social minutes after he announced the 25 per cent tariff, Trump said the US has a 'MASSIVE TRADE DEFICIT WITH INDIA!!!' In 2024, the total goods trade between India and the US stood at $129.2 billion. While the US' exports to India in calendar year 2024 rose 3.4 per cent to $41.8 billion from 2023, its imports from India increased by 4.5 per cent to $87.4 billion, resulting in a goods trade deficit of $45.7 billion. The deficit was 5.4 per cent higher than in 2023. India's main exports to the US included drug formulations and biologicals, telecom instruments, precious and semi-precious stones, petroleum products, vehicle and auto components, gold and other precious metal jewellery, readymade cotton garments, and iron and steel products. Meanwhile, its main imports include crude oil, petroleum products, coal, cut and polished diamonds, electric machinery, and aircraft, among others. The US President has cited a deficit with its trade partners as a negative for the world's largest economy, calling for fairer trade relations. The Trump administration has hence aggressively pursued trade agreements with various countries, signing one with the European Union (EU) earlier this week. As part of the trade deal, imports from the EU into the US will face a tariff of 15 per cent and will see American goods get 'unprecedented levels of market access', according to the White House. Further, the EU will purchase $750 billion of US energy goods and invest $600 billion in the US by 2028. Siddharth Upasani is a Deputy Associate Editor with The Indian Express. He reports primarily on data and the economy, looking for trends and changes in the former which paint a picture of the latter. Before The Indian Express, he worked at Moneycontrol and financial newswire Informist (previously called Cogencis). Outside of work, sports, fantasy football, and graphic novels keep him busy. ... Read More
India Today
11 minutes ago
- India Today
Canada to recognise Palestinian state in September: PM Carney
Canada will officially recognise a Palestinian state at the United Nations in September, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced on Wednesday, citing recent reform commitments by the Palestinian Authority (PA) and emphasising the need to preserve the possibility of a two-state solution."Canada has long been committed to a two-state solution, an independent, viable and sovereign Palestinian state living side by side with the State of Israel in peace and security,' Carney said during a press conference alongside Foreign Minister Anita Anand, as quoted by stated that the recognition, to be made at the 80th session of the UN General Assembly, depends on the PA's pledge to implement substantial governance reforms. President Mahmoud Abbas has reportedly assured Carney that general elections will be held in 2026, with Hamas excluded from participating."The Palestinian Authority has committed to lead much-needed reform," Carney said. "President Abbas has also committed to not militarising the state of Palestine."Canada's decision follows recent declarations by the United Kingdom and France. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Tuesday the UK will recognise a Palestinian state in September unless Israel agrees to a ceasefire in Gaza, while France last week confirmed it will also proceed with recognition in announcement comes amid rising global attention to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where an ongoing Israeli blockade continues to hinder the delivery of vital aid."Canada will always steadfastly support Israel's existence as an independent state in the Middle East, living in peace and security," Carney US CONDEMN CANADA 'S DECISIONIsrael swiftly condemned Canada's move, saying it undermines efforts to end the conflict in Gaza and rewards militant group Hamas."The change in the position of the Canadian government at this time is a reward for Hamas and harms the efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza and a framework for the release of the hostages," Israel's foreign ministry said in a statement released early announcement also drew a sharp response from Washington. A White House official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters that US President Donald Trump views recognition of Palestinian statehood as a reward to Hamas and has no intention of following suit.'As the president stated, he would be rewarding Hamas if he recognizes a Palestinian state, and he doesn't think they should be rewarded,' the official said. 'President Trump's focus is on getting people fed (in Gaza).- EndsTune InMust Watch
India.com
11 minutes ago
- India.com
‘Peace Needs Palestine': Canada Joins France And UK, To Back Statehood Recognition At UNGA Meet
Ottawa: Taking cue from France and the United Kingdom, Canada has announced it will formally recognise the State of Palestine this September during the 80th United Nations General Assembly. The development marks a major policy shift as Western pressure mounts on Israel to accept a two-state solution in the wake of the deepening Gaza war. Standing beside Foreign Minister Anita Anand, Prime Minister Mark Carney confirmed the decision on Wednesday. 'Canada has long been committed to a two-state solution. An independent, viable and sovereign Palestinian state living side by side with the State of Israel in peace and security – that is the vision we are reaffirming,' he said. Canada's decision comes on the heels of similar announcements from European powers. France has already said it will formally recognise Palestine during the UNGA meeting in September. Under Prime Minister Keir Starmer, the United Kingdom has also laid down a roadmap for recognition, contingent on Israeli action, including an end to the ongoing military campaign in Gaza. 'We are taking cue from global partners who believe peace is only possible when Palestine is treated as a legitimate state actor,' Carney added. He clarified that Canada's upcoming recognition rests on what he described as 'important assurances' from the Palestinian Authority. He cited direct conversations with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. 'The Palestinian Authority has committed to lead much needed reform. President Abbas assured me his administration will conduct long-overdue national elections in 2026. Hamas will play no part,' he stated. The Canadian leader also noted Abbas's 'clear commitment' to keep the future Palestinian state demilitarised. With international eyes trained on the Gaza Strip, where hunger and devastation continue to mount under Israeli blockade, Ottawa's stance is a marked pivot in its Middle East posture. Carney's move adds weight to growing frustration among global leaders over the humanitarian crisis and the lack of progress toward a diplomatic resolution. 'Canada will always steadfastly support Israel's existence as an independent state in the Middle East, living in peace and security. But any path to lasting peace for Israel also requires a viable and stable Palestinian state, one that recognises Israel's inalienable right to security,' he said. Carney mentioned that the announcement followed a call with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The two leaders exchanged views on Gaza's spiraling humanitarian disaster and the UK's evolving position on Palestinian recognition. Israel's government wasted no time in pushing back. In a statement posted to X (formerly Twitter), the Foreign Ministry blasted Canada's decision, calling it 'a reward to Hamas'. 'The change in the position of the Canadian government at this time is a reward for Hamas and harms the efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza and a framework for the release of the hostages,' the ministry said. That argument echoes prior criticism from both Israel and the United States when France and the United Kingdom announced similar plans. While supporting a two-state solution, Washington has so far declined to follow the same path. Canada, in fact, had only recently joined a coalition of allies, including the United Kingdom, Norway, New Zealand and Australia, in slapping sanctions on two far-right ministers in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's cabinet. That move signalled growing frustration among Western partners over Israel's escalating settler violence and continued expansion of West Bank settlements. A joint statement from the five nations at the time read, 'We are steadfastly committed to the two-state solution, which is the only way to guarantee security and dignity for Israelis and Palestinians and ensure long term stability in the region, but it is imperiled by extremist settler violence and settlement expansion.' Still, not everyone is on board. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio dismissed the sanctions move as unhelpful. He argued it does little to 'advance US-led efforts to achieve a ceasefire, bring all hostages home and end the war'. But for Carney, the calculus appears to be shifting fast. With each passing week of bloodshed in Gaza, the political space for symbolic neutrality is shrinking. By stepping into the ring alongside Paris, London and others, Ottawa is now openly backing a path that sees Palestinian statehood not only as an aspiration, but as a diplomatic reality waiting to be recognised.
