'Will secure national interest': India responds to Trump's 25% tariff and Russia penalty

India on Wednesday responded to US President Donald Trump’s announcement of a 25% tariff on goods imported from India, saying that the government will take all steps necessary to secure our national interest.  

The move has dashed hopes of a limited trade agreement between the two countries, which had been under negotiation for several months.

In an official statement, the Indian government said it had taken note of the U.S. President’s remarks and was closely studying the implications. “India and the US have been engaged in negotiations on concluding a fair, balanced and mutually beneficial bilateral trade agreement over the last few months. We remain committed to that objective,” the statement said.

However India responded saying that the government will take all steps necessary to secure our national interest, as has been the case with other trade agreements including the latest Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement with the UK.

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“The Government has taken note of a statement by the US President on bilateral trade. The Government is studying its implications. India and the US have been engaged in negotiations on concluding a fair, balanced and mutually beneficial bilateral trade agreement over the last few months. We remain committed to that objective. The Government attaches the utmost importance to protecting and promoting the welfare of our farmers, entrepreneurs, and MSMEs,” the government said in a statement.

India’s response came after President Trump on Wednesday announced that a 25% tariff on imports from India will take effect beginning August 1, citing what he described as unfair trade practices and India’s continued ties with Russia.

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In a statement posted on Truth Social, Trump acknowledged India as a “friend” but criticised the country’s high tariffs and stringent non-monetary trade barriers, calling them “among the highest in the world” and “obnoxious.”

“Remember, while India is our friend, we have, over the years, done relatively little business with them because their Tariffs are far too high, among the highest in the World, and they have the most strenuous and obnoxious non-monetary Trade Barriers of any Country,” Trump posted on X.

“Also, they have always bought a vast majority of their military equipment from Russia, and are Russia’s largest buyer of energy, along with China, at a time when everyone wants Russia to stop the killing in Ukraine — all things not good!” he added.