Donald Trump has just launched a new attack, declaring that he will significantly raise tariffs within the next 24 hours. He also criticized India, calling it "not a good trading partner."

Washington, D.C./New Delhi – Former U.S. President Donald Trump has once again taken aim at India, accusing the country of being an unfair trading partner and threatening to raise tariffs "very substantially" within the next 24 hours. In an interview with CNBC, Trump stated that India is not cooperating on trade and is, in his words, "fueling the Russian war machine" by continuing its crude oil imports from Russia. What Did Trump Say About India? Speaking to CNBC on Tuesday, Trump said: "India has not been a good trading partner. They do a lot of business with us, but we don't do business with them. We settled on 25%, but I think I’m going to raise that very substantially over the next 24 hours, because they’re buying Russian oil." Trump criticized India’s tariff policies and went on to accuse the country of profiting from the resale of Russian oil: “India is not only buying massive amounts of Russian oil, they are then, for much of the oil purchased, selling it on the open market for big profits.” He added that such actions are indirectly funding Russia’s war against Ukraine, a position increasingly echoed by his administration officials. Tariff Hike on the Cards? A 25% tariff rate on Indian imports has already been announced, set to take effect on August 7, 2025. However, Trump now warns that additional penalties are on the table, especially if India continues its current energy and defense trade relationships with Russia. These fresh threats come just days after Trump hinted that the U.S. and India were nearing a bilateral trade agreement. Talks have stalled over key issues such as agriculture, dairy imports, and genetically modified crops, where India has refused to open up its markets. Why is India Buying Russian Oil? India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has responded strongly to the criticism. The MEA explained that India’s purchase of Russian crude is based on national energy security and the need to ensure stable and affordable supplies for its large population. “These decisions were necessitated by the diversion of regular energy supplies to Europe during the crisis,” the MEA said, highlighting that even Western nations critical of India have continued energy and trade relations with Russia. India also pointed out that previous U.S. administrations had acknowledged the benefits of Indian imports of Russian oil in stabilizing the global energy market. India Hits Back at ‘Unjustified’ Criticism India has called out what it sees as hypocrisy from the U.S. and EU, stating that countries criticizing India are themselves trading with Russia under different terms. The Indian government emphasized that it will take all necessary steps to protect national interests and economic security. “Targeting India in this context is unjustified and unreasonable,” the MEA noted. What’s Next? While Trump ramps up his rhetoric ahead of the 2025 elections, India continues its strategy of diversifying energy imports, with several Russian crude shipments having arrived over the past weekend. Amid these tensions, India is also planning a Rs 20,000 crore initiative to support exporters and promote ‘Brand India’ globally — a move that signals New Delhi’s determination to strengthen its trade presence, even in the face of rising geopolitical pressures. Key Takeaways: Donald Trump has threatened to raise tariffs on Indian imports over continued Russian oil trade. A 25% tariff is already set to be implemented on August 7, 2025. Trump accuses India of profiting from Russian oil sales and indirectly funding the Ukraine war. India says its oil strategy is based on affordability and necessity. The Indian government calls the U.S. criticism unfair and hypocritical. Trade talks between the two countries remain stalled due to key policy differences.

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