'Unfair, Unjustified': India Slams Trump's Additional 25% Tariff, Says It Will Take All Actions Necessary To Protect National Interests

PM Modi and US President Donald Trump. (Photo:ANI)

India has reacted strongly to US President Donald Trump's recent decision to impose an additional 25 per cent tariff on Indian imports, citing the country's continued oil trade with Russia. In an official statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi has termed the move as unfair, unjustified and unreasonable.

The Ministry of External Affairs added that India will take all necessary steps to protect its national interests.

In its official statement, the Ministry of External Affairs called the additional tariffs "unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable," and added that "India will take all actions necessary to protect its national interests."

Statement by Official Spokesperson
https://t.co/BNwLm9YmJc pic.twitter.com/DsvRvhd61D

— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) August 6, 2025

The Ministry of External Affairs said that it is extremely unfortunate that the US has decided to impose additional duties on India for actions that many other countries are also doing in their national interest.

"The United States has in recent days targeted India’s oil imports from Russia. We have already made clear our position on these issues, including the fact that our imports are based on market factors and done with the overall objective of ensuring the energy security of 1.4 billion people of India. 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," MEA said in the statement. 

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed an executive order imposing an additional 25 per cent duty on Indian imports, citing New Delhi's continued oil trade with Russia. The move takes the total duty on Indian goods to 50 per cent.

The newly announced duties will take effect 21 days after the signing of the order and will apply to all eligible Indian imports arriving in the US, except for consignments that are already in transit and have received clearance before September 17.

India has asserted that it is being unfairly singled out by the United States and the European Union for continuing oil imports from Russia, despite the fact that the EU itself recorded Euro 67.5 billion in goods trade with Russia in 2024 and an estimated Euro 17.2 billion in services trade in 2023, well after the Ukraine conflict began.