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. The new rate will come into effect in 21 days, so on 27 August, according to the executive order. 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”.”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 will take all actions necessary to protect its national interests,” it added. 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”.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”.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 …
