Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his team continue to disregard Washington’s latest move to double tariffs on Indian products, even as US President Donald Trump adopts another provocative stance against New Delhi. At a time when India is strengthening trade ties with Russia and deepening relations with other global partners, Trump has once again made remarks seen as a deliberate attempt to needle India.
Trump reiterated his claim of being instrumental in brokering the stoppage of military action between India and Pakistan. He further asserted that he had been involved in decisive military actions, claiming that “seven aircraft” were shot down. This comes after his earlier statement that “five aircraft” were downed, though he offered no clarity on which country’s planes were involved.
Two weeks ago, Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh had confirmed that India shot down five Pakistani fighter jets during Operation Sindoor. He explained that the interceptions were carried out using India’s advanced S-400 air defence system. Singh also revealed that an additional Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft was neutralised during the operation. Following this disclosure, Trump escalated his claim, insisting that the number was seven.
Reinforcing his earlier assertion, Trump said the ceasefire between India and Pakistan was linked to US trade leverage. “The US threatened to halt trade if there was no ceasefire within 24 hours. We told them that if you are at war, we won’t trade with you. They had to make a decision within 24 hours, and they did. I have used this strategy many times. If trade or anything else can help solve a problem, I use it,” Trump said.
Meanwhile, Washington’s additional tariff on Indian goods comes into effect from 12:01 am tomorrow. The new tariff, announced by the US Department of Homeland Security, will raise duties on Indian products from 25% to 50%. Trump justified the hike by citing India’s continued purchase of Russian oil. He declared that there would be no trade negotiations with India until the tariff dispute is settled. “There will be no further talks until these issues are resolved,” the President maintained.
Economists warn that the 50% tariff could deal a little blow to India’s export competitiveness in the US market. With prices for Indian goods set to rise sharply, experts predict a slight decline in export volumes, potentially affecting economic growth.
India, however, has made its position clear. Responding to the tariff hike, Indian Ambassador to Russia Vinay Kumar said in an interview with Russian news agency TASS that New Delhi will prioritise securing affordable energy. “We will buy oil from wherever we can get the best deal,” he asserted, adding that India’s foremost objective is to ensure energy security for its 1.4 billion citizens. Kumar emphasised that even if Washington imposes a 50% tariff, India will take all necessary steps to protect its national interest.
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