Trump’s 50% Tariffs on India Take Effect Amid Tensions Over Russian Oil
The doubling of tariffs on imports from India by former US president Donald Trump, reaching up to 50%, came into force as planned on Wednesday, increasing strain between the two nations.
An additional 25% levy was imposed following India’s purchases of Russian oil, adding to existing 25% duties on various Indian products. This brings total tariffs on goods such as apparel, gems, jewelry, footwear, sporting equipment, furniture, and chemicals to some of the highest levels set by the US, matching those on imports from Brazil and China.
Since April, India and the US have engaged in five rounds of talks to negotiate a trade agreement. However, disagreements over market access for US agricultural and dairy products in India, along with India’s continued reliance on Russian energy, caused discussions to stall.
The tariffs are expected to impact thousands of small businesses and workers, including in Gujarat, the home state of Indian prime minister Narendra Modi. A spokesperson for India’s commerce ministry, speaking anonymously, stated that affected exporters would receive financial support and would be urged to explore other markets like China, Latin America, and the Middle East.
In related updates:
- Trump hosted a lengthy cabinet session, where officials appeared to vie in offering him praise, while he responded to questions from sympathetic media representatives.
- Trump mentioned having a preferred candidate in mind to replace Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook, who is resisting his efforts to remove her.
- Journalists from pro-Trump outlets presented arguments about crime in Washington DC, aligning with the former president’s assertions.
- The NAACP has filed a lawsuit against Texas over its newly drawn congressional districts, alleging racial gerrymandering that weakens Black voter influence.
- A whistleblower complaint claims that a division linked to Elon Musk improperly transferred sensitive Social Security information of millions of Americans to an insecure server, possibly breaching privacy laws. One individual named in the complaint is Edward Coristine, whose recent assault in Washington DC was cited by Trump in justifying federal intervention.
- Sean Duffy, former Republican congressman and Fox personality, now serving under Trump, announced the withdrawal of $175 million in funding for several projects tied to California’s high-speed rail initiative.
- The Trump administration took punitive actions against certain Federal Emergency Management Agency officials.
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