Trump hasn't made a clear statement on whether the extra tariffs imposed on India will coincide with a ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine situation.

US President Donald Trump, who recently slapped a hefty 25 percent tariff on India due to its connections with Russia, is once again hinting at the possibility of “secondary sanctions.” Trump made this new threat of secondary sanctions when questioned about why India was being targeted for its business dealings with Russia, while other nations purchasing Russian energy seemed to be off the hook. Though he didn’t directly answer the question, he did caution that “a lot more secondary sanctions” are on the horizon. He remarked, “It’s only been 8 hours. So let’s see what unfolds. You’re going to see a lot more... You’re going to see so many secondary sanctions.” The US President also suggested that China could face sanctions as well. “Could happen. Depends on how we do. Could happen,” Trump stated. This comes just hours after he imposed that additional 25 percent tariff on India for its purchase of Russian energy—an investment he claims is “fueling” Moscow's war in Ukraine. Just a week prior, Trump had already introduced a 25 percent import duty on Indian products, citing New Delhi's elevated tariffs. He also warned of “additional penalties” for India’s trade with Russia. The new 25 percent tariff will take effect 21 days after August 7. What’s next after Trump’s 50 percent tariff on India? This new import tax will push duties on certain Indian exports up to a staggering 50 percent, making it one of the highest tariffs imposed on any US trading partner. How did India respond? In its initial reaction, India strongly condemned Trump’s latest executive order imposing the additional 25 percent tariff on Indian goods, labeling the move as “unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable.” The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) emphasized that it had clearly communicated its stance in recent discussions with the US, asserting that energy imports are driven by market dynamics and are essential for ensuring energy security for its 1.4 billion citizens “It’s really unfortunate that the US has decided to impose more tariffs on India, especially when other countries are doing the same thing for their own national interests,” the government stated. India also made it clear that it would “take all necessary actions to safeguard its national interests.”

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