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Trump hits India with extra 25% tariff for buying Russian oil Trump hits India with extra 25% tariff for buying Russian oil
(32 minutes later)
US President Donald Trump has issued an executive order on Wednesday hitting India with an additional 25% tariff over its purchases of Russian oil. US President Donald Trump has issued an executive order hitting India with an additional 25% tariff over its purchases of Russian oil.
That will raise the total tariff on Indian imports to the United States to 50% - among the highest rates imposed by the US.That will raise the total tariff on Indian imports to the United States to 50% - among the highest rates imposed by the US.
The new rate shall be "effective with respect to goods entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time 21 days after the date of this order", the executive order stated. The new rate will come into effect in 21 days, so on 27 August, according to the executive order.
The US president had earlier warned he would raise levies, saying India "don't care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine". A response from India's foreign ministry on Wednesday said New Delhi had already made clear its stance on imports from Russia, and reiterated that the tariff is "unfair, unjustified and unreasonable".
"The Russian Federation's actions in Ukraine pose an ongoing threat to US national security and foreign policy, necessitating stronger measures to address the national emergency," according to a White House statement. "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," the brief statement read.
"India's importation of Russian Federation oil undermines US efforts to counter Russia's harmful activities." "India will take all actions necessary to protect its national interests," it added.
The White House said that India import and subsequent reselling of Russian oil on the market "further enables the Russian Federation's economy to fund its aggression [in Ukraine]". The US president had earlier warned he would raise levies, saying India doesn't "care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine".
It stated that the US president is using the tariff to "deter countries from supporting the Russian Federation's economy". On Wednesday, the White House said in a statement that the "Russian Federation's actions in Ukraine pose an ongoing threat to US national security and foreign policy, necessitating stronger measures to address the national emergency".
It said India's imports of Russian oil undermine US efforts to counter Russia's activities in Ukraine.
It added that the US will determine which other countries import oil from Russia, and will "recommend further actions to the President as needed".It added that the US will determine which other countries import oil from Russia, and will "recommend further actions to the President as needed".
The threatened tariff hike follows meetings by Trump's top envoy Steve Witkoff in Moscow, aimed at securing peace between Russia and Ukraine. Oil and gas are Russia's biggest exports, and Moscow's biggest customers include China, India and Turkey.
The threatened tariff hike follows meetings on Wednesday by Trump's top envoy Steve Witkoff in Moscow, aimed at securing peace between Russia and Ukraine.
New Delhi had previously called Trump's threat to raise tariffs over its purchase of oil from Russia "unjustified and unreasonable".New Delhi had previously called Trump's threat to raise tariffs over its purchase of oil from Russia "unjustified and unreasonable".
In an earlier statement, a spokesperson for India's foreign ministry, Randhir Jaiswal, said the US had encouraged India to import Russian gas at the start of the conflict, "for strengthening global energy markets stability".In an earlier statement, a spokesperson for India's foreign ministry, Randhir Jaiswal, said the US had encouraged India to import Russian gas at the start of the conflict, "for strengthening global energy markets stability".
He said India "began importing from Russia because traditional supplies were diverted to Europe after the outbreak of the conflict".He said India "began importing from Russia because traditional supplies were diverted to Europe after the outbreak of the conflict".
India also criticised the US - its largest trading partner - for introducing the tariffs, when the US itself is still doing trade with Russia. The latest threatened tariff demonstrates Trump's willingness to impose sanctions related to the war in Ukraine even against nations that the US considers to be important allies or trading partners.
This could be a warning that other countries could feel a real bite if Trump ramps up those kind of sanctions once Friday's deadline passes, when the US president has threatened new sanctions on Russia and to place 100% tariffs on countries that purchase its oil.
This would not be the first time the Trump administration has imposed secondary tariffs, which are also in place to punish buyers of Venezuelan oil.
India has previously criticised the US - its largest trading partner - for introducing the levies, when the US itself is still doing trade with Russia.
Last year, the US traded goods worth an estimated $3.5bn (£2.6bn) with Russia, despite tough sanctions and tariffs.Last year, the US traded goods worth an estimated $3.5bn (£2.6bn) with Russia, despite tough sanctions and tariffs.
"Like any major economy, India will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security," the foreign ministry statement said. Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi have in the past referred to each other as friends and, during Trump's first term, attended political rallies in each others' countries.
But that has not stopped Trump from hitting India with the levies, suggesting diverging interests between New Delhi and Washington.
With additional analysis from BBC North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher.