India - US Tariff and Relations | News + Updates

[Raj-Hindustani]

Everything is connected. Americans are experts in using pressure and weak points.
But, okay, India is totally free to defy Trump. Something not even Netanyahu dares. We will know before long the good and bad out of this tussle between Modi and Trump. My guess is that Trump can punish India more than vice versa--far more.

Will see it—anyway, just to clarify it more.

Pakistan: A Tactical Asset
The U.S. views Pakistan primarily through the lens of geopolitical access and military utility. It’s strategically located, bordering Afghanistan, Iran, and China. The U.S. often relies on Pakistan’s airspace and military bases for operations in Afghanistan or potentially against Iran. Historically, Pakistan has been more flexible and cooperative with U.S. military demands, often in exchange for:
Financial aid
Military support
Diplomatic backing

India: A Strategic Partner
India is important to the U.S. for economic and geopolitical reasons: A massive and growing market economy and A counterbalance to China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific However, the U.S. also knows:

India is firmly non-aligned and will not offer its airspace or military bases for U.S. strikes against third countries. India is unlikely to fight wars on behalf of the U.S., especially against China. The relationship is based more on technology, trade, and shared concerns about China, not on military dependence.

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The India-Pakistan conflict has nothing to do with the current U.S.-India trade tensions. Even if both countries fought, it wouldn’t serve U.S. interests. Each side would claim victory in its own way, but that’s unrelated to this new trade drama.
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The current trade issues between the U.S. and India are rooted in a trade imbalance and India’s refusal to spend billions on U.S. weapons and nuclear plant deals. Instead, India continues to buy oil from Russia, deepen ties with Iran, and pursue independent foreign policy decisions — which doesn’t align with U.S. expectations.

 

[Master Chief]

India's hard-hitting response after Trump's fresh tariff threat: Key points​

The Ministry of External Affairs, in a strongly worded statement, said that India's oil imports are guided by national interests and rejected what it described as "unjustified and unreasonable" pressure from Western powers.​

In Short​

• India rejects US and EU criticism over Russian oil imports
• Ministry of External Affairs highlights hypocrisy in Western trade
• MEA says oil imports essential for affordable fuel prices

The Indian government issued a strongly worded statement on Monday questioning Washington and the European Union for their duplicity in their stance. The Ministry of External Affairs in the statement said that India’s oil imports are guided by national interests and energy security considerations and rejected what it described as "unjustified and unreasonable" pressure from Western powers. The statement came hours after US President Donald Trump said that India has been buying “massive amounts” of Russian oil and selling it on the open market for “big profits”.

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MEA STATEMENT - KEY TAKEAWAYS​

• The statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) explained that India began buying discounted Russian oil after the Ukraine conflict disrupted global energy flows. As traditional suppliers shifted their focus to meet Europe's demand, India turned to Russia to secure its energy needs.
• The ministry highlighted that at the time the US in fact had “encouraged such imports”, viewing them as a means to “strengthening global energy markets stability”.

MEA also pointed out that the countries criticising India are themselves engaged in trade with Russia. However, unlike India, where such trade is a critical national necessity, their dealings lack the same justification and are “not even a vital national compulsion”.

• The ministry’s statement went on to explain that India’s energy imports from Russia are essential to ensuring affordable and predictable fuel prices for Indian consumers. They are a necessity compelled by the global market situation.
• Highlighting the disparity in global trade practices, the ministry pointed out that the European Union maintained significant economic ties with Russia. In 2024, EU-Russia bilateral trade in goods reached Euro 67.5 billion, while trade in services was estimated at Euro 17.2 billion in 2023, underscoring the ongoing commercial engagement despite public criticism directed at India.
• The ministry also drew comparisons between India’s and Europe’s trade with Russia, noting that the EU’s commercial engagement was significantly higher than India’s total trade with Russia during the same period or afterward. It highlighted that European imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Russia hit a record 16.5 million tonnes in 2024, surpassing the previous high of 15.21 million tonnes recorded in 2022.
• India also highlighted that Europe’s trade with Russia extends well beyond energy, encompassing a wide range of sectors. This includes fertilizers, mining products, chemicals, iron and steel, as well as machinery and transport equipment.
• Furthermore, the ministry drew attention to US imports from Russia and said Washington continues to import uranium hexafluoride for its nuclear industry, palladium crucial to the electric vehicle sector, as well as fertilisers and various chemicals from Russia.
• Concluding its statement, the ministry asserted that the criticism directed at India is both unjustified and unreasonable. It said that, like any major economy, India is fully entitled to take all necessary steps to protect its national interests and ensure its economic security.
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• The developments come after US President Donald Trump imposed a 25 per cent tariff on India from August 1, 2025 onwards. The tariff, as per Trump, comes in response to India's rates for the US which are the “highest in the world”. Trump said that the tariff comes as a penalty for India's purchase of Russian oil and its participation in the BRICS bloc, which Trump deems as “anti-American.”
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  India’s hard-hitting response after Trump’s fresh tariff threat: Key points

  The Ministry of External Affairs in a strongly worded statement said that India’s oil imports are guided by national interests and rejected what it described as "unjustified and unreasonable" pressure from Western powers.

  www.indiatoday.in
  
  
  

Has Modi said anything about Trump's repeated threats, or has he distributed "free hands" to others as usual?

Where is your leader when he is actually challenged directly and repeatedly by another stronk leader?

 

[Raj-Hindustani]

Has Modi said anything about Trump's repeated threats, or has he distributed "free hands" to others as usual?

Where is your leader when he is actually challenged directly and repeatedly by another stronk leader?

International relations don’t work in a reactive or emotional way.

Take the example of India–Maldives relations. When President Muizzu came to power, ties between the two nations deteriorated for a while. But did Prime Minister Modi make any rash or unnecessary public statements? No—because that’s not the role of a country’s top leader. That's where diplomacy comes in.

Now, we can already see that the relationship is improving again.

 

[Master Chief]

Reminds me of imran Khan. But yeah, the foreign affairs ministry responded to Trump as expected.

What you talking about? What bizarre diversion is this?

Say what you will about his deteriorated internal legacy, but Khan directly addressed every foreign leader who dared attack Pakistan. Head on. No hiding behind "MEAs". You think he hasn't dealt with Donald before?

Kashmir: Imran Khan says Pakistan will 'teach India a lesson'

Pakistan PM says army is preparing to respond to anticipated Indian aggression in region

www.theguardian.com

Imran Khan hits back at Trump’s ‘tirade’ against Pakistan

PM hits back at 'false assertions' by US president, who accused Islamabad of not doing 'a damn thing' for Washington.

www.aljazeera.com

Even the resident clown Shabaz Sharif will directly and robustly respond to other leaders' rants about Pakistan.

Meanwhile, Modi is beyond pathetic now, and hindutva's cowardly visage lies exposed.

You brave and ancient people won't dare criticise China or USA directly. Instead your leader sends the MEA to plead pathetically "but but but we thought USA said it was OK to buy Russian oil...Europe does it so why can't we? Please daddy, we set up shrines for you, why the sudden beat down now?".

Why not roll over and let Trump tickle your belly after the hug diplomacy next time?

 

[Raj-Hindustani]

What you talking about? What bizarre diversion is this?

Say what you will about his deteriorated internal legacy, but Khan directly addressed every foreign leader who dared attack Pakistan. Head on. No hiding behind "MEAs". You think he hasn't dealt with Donald before?

Kashmir: Imran Khan says Pakistan will 'teach India a lesson'

Pakistan PM says army is preparing to respond to anticipated Indian aggression in region

www.theguardian.com

Imran Khan hits back at Trump’s ‘tirade’ against Pakistan

PM hits back at 'false assertions' by US president, who accused Islamabad of not doing 'a damn thing' for Washington.

www.aljazeera.com

Even the resident clown Shabaz Sharif will directly and robustly respond to other leaders' rants about Pakistan.

Meanwhile, Modi is beyond pathetic now, and hindutva's cowardly visage lies exposed.

You brave and ancient people won't dare criticise China or USA directly. Instead your leader sends the MEA to plead pathetically "but but but we thought USA said it was OK to buy Russian oil...Europe does it so why can't we? Please daddy, we set up shrines for you, why the sudden beat down now?".

Why not roll over and let Trump tickle your belly after the hug diplomacy next time?

Imran Khan’s failure as a leader was largely due to his lack of understanding of how international politics works. He was more focused on pleasing the local audience with populist statements, even if it meant damaging Pakistan's relationships with other countries.

Under Imran Khan, even ties with long-time ally Saudi Arabia weakened so much that the Army Chief had to step in. That’s a clear sign of failed diplomacy and poor leadership.

Such short-sighted behavior—driven by vote politics and local popularity—comes at a heavy cost on the global stage.

A true national leader cannot afford to act that way. Diplomacy requires restraint, strategy, and long-term thinking. Without that, failure is inevitable

 

[Master Chief]

International relations don’t work in a reactive or emotional way.

Take the example of India–Maldives relations. When President Muizzu came to power, ties between the two nations deteriorated for a while. But did Prime Minister Modi make any rash or unnecessary public statements? No—because that’s not the role of a country’s top leader. That's where diplomacy comes in.

Now, we can already see that the relationship is improving again.

This belies a fatal misunderstanding of international diplomacy on your part.

I have rarely heard such copium induction from you - you are one of the intelligent ones.

Diplomats should take personality into account for all negotiation, especially those that are made public thanks to Twitter rants etc.

Trump will keep beating down any opponent that behaves in a cowardly or grovelling manner. Sending your MEA as sacrificial lambs will not appease the persona of Trump.

But hey, carry on.

We don't care if India flails around a bit more with its citizens in abject denial.

️

 

[Vkdindian1]

True, but America had hoped India would do things to help contain China

And what are those things?

the Indians made those four agreements to support US ops.

What operations were these? Launching strikes from Indian soil? India never made any such agreement to allow military operations out of Indian soil. India just allowed US military to get logistics support, which is happening. But not for launching strikes but just for transit etc.

The assessment that India has failed to contain China seems to be made by a child. How is India supposed to do it? Attack them? Really? Is this a Think Tank asking for?

India had no intention and was stringing the US along

How was India stringing US? Probably you confused the situation with Pakistan getting loads of money in the name of “war on Terror” and then stabbing them in the back.

India has no such arrangement. India has paid hard cash for every item we got and trade is being done as per normal norms.

In his book, “No Trade is Free”, and ex-Trump aide reveals how Trump thinks of India.

Such books are published every other day and can’t become basis of policy making. I can quote 10s of books like this on US-Pak relations and terror being used by Pak as a tool.

Should I remind you of Trump’s statement on Pakistan and Terror in one sentence?

The meeting in the White House between Trump and Zelenskyy isn’t so old to be forgotten so fast. I hope you remember the obituaries written for Ukraine after that meeting. And what is happening now?

As a Think Tank your analysis is bereft of the title you hold.

For all those celebrating end to Indo-US relations are likely to be in for a rude surprise. A common trait seen here- Celebrate too early as well as write obituaries too fast.

 

[Master Chief]

Imran Khan’s failure as a leader was largely due to his lack of understanding of how international politics works. He was more focused on pleasing the local audience with populist statements, even if it meant damaging Pakistan's relationships with other countries.

Such short-sighted behavior—driven by vote politics and local popularity—comes at a heavy cost on the global stage.

A true national leader cannot afford to act that way. Diplomacy requires restraint, strategy, and long-term thinking. Without that, failure is inevitable

Agree here, which is precisely why India miscalculated in May and India is in a far bigger mess now than Khan ever was at any point.

 

[Meengla]

You brave and ancient people won't dare criticise China or USA directly. Instead your leader sends the MEA to plead pathetically "but but but we thought USA said it was OK to buy Russian oil...Europe does it so why can't we? Please daddy, we set up shrines for you, why the sudden beat down now?".
Why not roll over and let Trump tickle your belly after the hug diplomacy next time?

Trump is absolutely sensing weakness in India, especially after the debacle which India faced after the May 2025 conflict. Trump can sense that Russia is either no position to help India much or just may not help out of spite. Trump knows that Britain and France would side with America in the UNSC. And no guess needed what would China do. And Trump is so effusively praising Pakistan in last some months, which has everyone scratching their heads.
I don't know why some Indians are unable to see there is a pattern in Trump's behavior. This is not just another trade talk going on!!!

 

[Raj-Hindustani]

Agree here, which is precisely why India miscalculated in May and India is in a far bigger mess now than Khan ever was at any point.

What was miscalculated? We achieved what we wanted! rest you want to discuss—might go to a dedicated thread on it—it's already there!

Since the May incident has no relation here!...

 

[FuturePAF]

And what are those things?


What operations were these? Launching strikes from Indian soil? India never made any such agreement to allow military operations out of Indian soil. India just allowed US military,Italy to get logistics support. Which is happening.

The assessment that India has failed to contain China seems to be made by a child. How is India supposed to do it? Attack them? Really? Is this a Think Tank asking for?

How was India stringing US? Probably you confused the situation with Pakistan getting loads of money in the name of “war on Terror” and then stabbing them in the back.

India has no such arrangement. India has paid hard cash for every item we got and trade is being done as per normal norms.


Such books are published every other day and can’t become basis of policy making. I can quote 10s of books like this on US-Pak relations and terror being used by Pak as a tool.

Should I remind you of Trump’s statement on Pakistan and Terror in one sentence?

The meeting in the White House between Trump and Zelenskyy isn’t so old to be forgotten so fast. I hope you remember the obituaries written for Ukraine after that meeting. And what is happening now?

As a Think Tank your analysis is bereft of the title you hold.

For all those celebrating end to Indo-US relations are likely to be in for a rude surprise. A common trait seen here- Celebrate too early as well as write obituaries too fast.

No one thinks this is the “end” of the Indo-US relationship, but the US raising the stakes for what it expects, in exchange for market access. Also the quad may not be. Treaty based collective defense organization, but the way LEMOA allows the kind of temporary basing for repair arrangements are:

1. Seen as the foundations for something more by China.
2. It is the Indian reluctance to not get drawn in, because during biden’s tenure, only so much was asked of India. Trump has raised the expectations, as China appears to be harder to contain than what he or the American policy making class had estimated.
3. India’s poor performance, at least as far as Trump is concerned, has him second guessing why India deserves market access when India doesn’t align with greater US interests.

 

[Master Chief]

What was miscalculated? We achieved what we wanted! rest you want to discuss—might go to a dedicated thread on it—it's already there!

Since the May incident has no relation here!...

I believe it is relevant.

You yourself suggested that over zealous politics and bombastic grandstanding with domestic audiences in mind (which is essentially what the Hindutva project espouses, not solely for domestic votes mind you, but more as an actual civilisational philosophy that voters and sponsors "buy into") has an international cost.

This "international cost" of May's hindutva inspired adventurism is precisely what is playing out now. The failure of India militarily and diplomatically is self-evident and remains part of the calculus in Trump's egotistical mind.

Why should Trump do any favours for a nation that cannot subdue a neighbour under a fifth of its size and population and a light year behind it economically and all this while itself having the benefit of Israeli, French, American AND Russian military equipment, never mind mount a challenge to Trump's main enemy - China? I too would hang you out to dry. Maybe Vietnam should be subbed in for you?

 

[Meengla]

India’s poor performance, at least as far as Trump is concerned, has him second guessing why India deserves market access when India doesn’t align with greater US interests.

Right.
Also, one thing for sure: Americans are far more capable of destroying the Indian economy then vice versa. A mere equitable distribution of H1B visas and preventing loop holes in outsourcing/offshoring will start to hurt India. Someone here posted a video where a Trump affiliate is blaming India for 'visa frauds'; that tells you that Americans are aware of the Indian shenanigans. There is plenty of skilled labors spread over dozens of poor countries who'd take over and it wouldn't surprise me that Indian companies based in America themselves who'd be part of such offshoring/outsourcing if the Americans decide to punish India.
Indians here are in denial if they think that Trump is not bullying them to get concessions: 'Do More!' . India doesn't have the leverage to counter a person like Trump who takes personal slights too personally. There are some Indian analysts who are even saying to lay low until Trump becomes a Lame Duck President after the Nov. 2026 Mid Term elections.

 

[Meengla]

This "international cost" of May's hindutva inspired adventurism is precisely what is playing out now. The failure of India militarily and diplomatically is self-evident and remains part of the calculus in Trump's egotistical mind.
Why should Trump do any favours for a nation that cannot subdue a neighbour under a fifth of its size and population and a light year behind it economically and all this while itself having the benefit of Israeli, French, American AND Russian military equipment, never mind mount a challenge to Trump's main enemy - China? I too would hang you out to dry. Maybe Vietnam should be subbed in for you?

Right.
Losing in a conflict like what happened between India and Pakistan in May 2025 has consequences. Look at Armenia too: Like a little wet puppy since it lost territory to Azerbaijan just recently.
Nobody respect a loser.

 

[Dalit]

It is very likely that tarrifs for India will be raised by Trump in the coming hours.