'Unfair, unjustified and unreasonable': MEA after Trump loads extra 25% tariff on Indian shipments
India strongly opposed US President Donald Trump's decision to impose a 25% tariff. India called the move unfair and unjustified. The tariff, totaling 50%, impacts Indian goods. India stated it will take necessary actions to safeguard its interests. The US cited India's oil imports from Russia as the reason. India defended its energy security decisions.
Agencies Donald Trump New Delhi: India said US President Donald Trump's decision to impose an additional 25% tariff on goods from the country was 'unfair, unjustified and unreasonable,' and reiterated that it will take all actions necessary to safeguard national interest.
Trump signed an executive order on Wednesday, imposing a total 50% tariff on its imports from India, the highest on any country and on a par with Brazil, a move marking an escalation of bilateral trade tensions.
'The US has, in recent days, targeted India's oil imports from Russia,' the ministry of external affairs said in a statement. 'We reiterate that these actions are unfair, unjustified and unreasonable. India will take all actions necessary to protect its national interests.' India had made clear its position on these issues.New Delhi has pointed out that its imports are based on market factors and aimed at ensuring the energy security of the 1.4-billion nation. 'It is, therefore, extremely unfortunate that the US should choose to impose additional tariffs on India for actions that several other countries are also taking in their own national interest,' said the ministry. In FY25, India's goods exports to the US stood at $86.5 billion and imports amounted to $45.7 billion.
The White House said the decision will strengthen measures taken under earlier sanctions against Russia following its actions in Ukraine. Trump signed the executive order imposing additional tariffs less than 14 hours before his initial tariffs were to come into effect. 'To deal with the national emergency described in Executive Order 14066, I determine that it is necessary and appropriate to impose an additional ad valorem duty on imports of articles of India, which is directly or indirectly importing Russian Federation oil,' Trump said in the ninesection executive order. The US President had announced a 25% tariff on India last week. While the initial duty takes effect on August 7, the additional levy will come into force after 21 days, effective August 27. After the order, the total tariff on Indian goods, barring a small exemption list, will be 50%. India's Russia imports undermine US efforts to counter Moscow's harmful activities, according to the White House. India's subsequent reselling of this oil in the open market, often at significant profit, further enables the Russian Federation's economy to fund its aggression, according to its factsheet.
'By imposing a 25% tariff, President Trump aims to deter countries from supporting the Russian Federation's economy through oil imports and impose serious economic consequences on the Russian Federation for its ongoing aggressions,' it said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
22 minutes ago
- Indian Express
‘Donald Trump is a clown, but…': Garry Kasparov warns Narendra Modi about friendship with Vladimir Putin
Chess legend Garry Kasparov, a staunch critic of Russian president Vladimir Putin, on Friday warned India PM Narendra Modi about trusting Putin, who he said 'would sell out Modi and the entire Indian nation at any time to prolong his dictatorship'. This was after Modi had posted a tweet about his and Putin's conversation about strengthening the India-Russia ties. 'Had a very good and detailed conversation with my friend President Putin. I thanked him for sharing the latest developments on Ukraine. We also reviewed the progress in our bilateral agenda, and reaffirmed our commitment to further deepen the India-Russia Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership. I look forward to hosting President Putin in India later this year. @KremlinRussia_E' Modi posted on X. Kasparov quote-tweeted that post and said, 'Your friend Vladimir Putin? The genocidal war criminal? Your friend who would sell out you and the entire Indian nation at any time to prolong his dictatorship by one more hour? With friends like that, who needs democracy? Trump is a clown, but stand for something better.' Your friend Vladimir Putin? The genocidal war criminal? Your friend who would sell out you and the entire Indian nation at any time to prolong his dictatorship by one more hour? With friends like that, who needs democracy? Trump is a clown, but stand for something better. — Garry Kasparov (@Kasparov63) August 8, 2025 Amid the tension in ties with the US after President Donald Trump doubled the tariff on India over its purchase of Russian oil, Modi and Putin held a phone conversation on Friday during which they discussed 'the latest developments on Ukraine' and 'reaffirmed our commitment to further deepen the India-Russia Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership'. Modi said he looked forward to hosting Putin in India later this year. National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, who travelled to Moscow this week and met Putin, had also said that the President would be visiting India. The Kremlin, meanwhile, issued a statement indicating a likely meeting between Putin and Trump next week over the war in Ukraine. The Modi-Putin conversation took place three days after Russia criticised Trump's tariff action and backed India's right to choose its trading partners. 'Sovereign countries have the right to choose their own trading partners,' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
Time of India
35 minutes ago
- Time of India
Miller vs Schiller: Who is the real 'Trump whisperer'?
TOI Correspondent from Washington: "There are no Democrats and Republicans in Washington anymore, only 'ins' and 'outs.'" is the new mantra in the US capital. India may be finding that out the hard way amid questions on whether its newly-hired lobbyist is delivering the goods after the tariff fiasco and if he is being outplayed by a Pakistani lobbyist. Both are said to be close to President Trump. In May this year, India hired Jason Miller -- a communications strategist and political adviser who has served as a senior adviser to Trump's presidential campaigns in 2016, 2020, and 2024 -- through his firm SHW Partners LLC, to lobby for New Delhi. The year-long contract is costing the government $1.8 million, with a monthly fee of $150,000. His firm's role is to provide strategic counsel, tactical planning, and government relations assistance on policy matters before the U.S. government, Congress, and other relevant stakeholders. India's Miller/SHW contract came a month after Pakistan zeroed in on Keith Schiller, a former Trump bodyguard for two decades, through his firm Javelin Associates which he established with George Sorial, who served as Executive Vice President and Counsel to The Trump Organization. Pakistan is paying Javelin $ 50,000 per month as retainer. While both Miller and Schiller have been dubbed "Trump whisperers" developments over the past six-eight weeks suggest Javelin has hit the mark while SHW has come up short. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 25 of the Best Cities to Live In Undo by Taboola by Taboola In a city where influencers float in an out of Trump inner circle, Schiller is believed to have the President's ear while Miller is said to be out the loop, going by Trump's suddenly love for Islamabad manifested in his invitation to Pakistan's army chief Asim Munir for a White House luncheon and the lower tariff (19 per cent) on Pakistan compared to India, which has been slammed with 25 percent, with another 25 percent punitive penalty impending on August 25 if New Delhi continues to buy Russian oil. However, White House insiders say characterisations like "Trump whisperer" are simplistic and the President is his own man taking decisions on what he sees as being good for America. They point out that Schiller left the White House as Director of Oval Office Operations in September 20 2017 after only nine months on the job and his access to Trump is exaggerated. Miller too has been out of the White House loop after declining a position of White House communications director after the 2016 election. Others in the influence-peddling business say the best lobbyists are the foreign leaders themselves. Nothing pleases Trump more than foreign leaders phoning him personally, and even better, supplicating themselves before him in the Oval Office and pledging billions in investment. And if they can play golf with him (like former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe did), and lose to him, that would be a birdie hit. Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was among those who reportedly took up golf in an effort to connect with Trump. India is more cricket than golf, and the upshot is that it may be holing out hole (not hole-in-one) on the tariff issue. Prime Minister Modi's declining of Trump's invitation to visit the White House when the US President was hosting Pakistan's army chief Asim Munir on June 18, his subsequent non-engagement on the tariff issue, and the defiant tone on Russian oil issue in terms of a personal phone call are factors said to have miffed Trump. "The (Indian) Prime Minister does not negotiate on tariffs over the phone. He leaves it to the negotiating," a senior Indian diplomat said by way of explaining the phone calls that some influencers are pressing for. But New Delhi is leery given the experience of some leaders who phoned Trump, came over to Washington, and left red-faced after they did not meet his terms, on trade and other issues. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa was publicly embarrassed in the White House, while Ukraine's Voldymyr Zelensky was humiliated in the Oval Office. Some phone calls have bought time, notably one from Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum, while others Vietnam's Lo Tam and South Korea's Lee Jae-myung, made calls that secured lower tariffs. Some other calls and visits have ended in disaster. Switzerland's President Karin Keller-Sutter came last week to avert a 39% tariff on Swiss goods, and did not get to meet Trump -- not even Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, or Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. She got to see Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who does not oversee trade policy, and returned empty-handed.
Time of India
35 minutes ago
- Time of India
US considers fixed-term student visas: What the policy change means for international students
DHS proposal to limit US student visas raises concerns for foreign learners The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has proposed a new policy to impose fixed-term limits on international students and exchange visitors, signalling a significant change in the management of academic visas. This proposal has recently cleared the White House review process and is expected to be released for public comment shortly. Currently, international students holding F-1 visas and exchange visitors on J-1 visas can remain in the US for the 'duration of status,' allowing them to stay as long as they are enrolled in academic programmes or internships. The new proposal would instead restrict their stay to a predetermined number of years, after which they would be required to apply for extensions even if their academic or exchange programmes are incomplete. Impact on international students, especially from India This potential policy shift could affect a large number of foreign students, particularly those from India. In 2024, Indian students represented the largest group of international students in the US, with over 420,000 enrolled across various educational institutions. The introduction of fixed-term limits could lead to uncertainties for these students, many of whom pursue multi-year courses and research programmes. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like How Effective Are Non-Surgical Treatments for Aging Skin? (Explore Benefits) AskLayers Learn More Undo The DHS sent the draft rule to the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs on June 27, with the review concluding recently. This clearance is a procedural step before the proposal is made available for public feedback and possible revisions. Policy background and previous versions The proposed rule marks a return to a similar policy first introduced in 2020 during the Trump administration. That earlier plan sought to cap the duration of student and exchange visitor visas to two or four years, depending on the course of study or the applicant's nationality. At the time, academic institutions strongly criticised the policy, arguing it would create disruption and uncertainty for students and educational programmes. Following criticism, the Biden administration withdrew the 2020 rule. However, the reintroduction of a comparable framework suggests renewed interest within the DHS in applying time-bound controls over nonimmigrant academic visas. Summary of key differences in visa duration Visa Type Current rule Proposed fixed-term limit F-1 Student Duration of status Fixed number of years (TBD) J-1 Exchange Duration of status Fixed number of years (TBD) Details on the exact number of years for these limits have not yet been disclosed. Next steps and public consultation Once the DHS publishes the draft rule, a period of public comment will follow, allowing stakeholders such as universities, student groups, and diplomatic missions to submit feedback. The final rule will be developed after considering these responses. This development comes amid ongoing debates around immigration policies and their impact on the US higher education sector, which relies heavily on international students for diversity, academic contributions, and financial support. TOI Education is on WhatsApp now. Follow us here . Ready to navigate global policies? Secure your overseas future. Get expert guidance now!
