The United States has issued an official notice imposing an additional 25 per cent tariff on imports from India, with the new duties set to take effect at 12:01 am (EST) on August 27.
The notice, released by the Department of Homeland Security through US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), said the tariffs implement President Donald Trump’s Executive Order 14329, signed on August 6.
The order directed US agencies to respond to "threats to the United States by the Government of the Russian Federation," with India targeted for new duties as part of that policy.
The tariffs, which raise the overall levy to 50 per cent on goods coming from India, are a penalty for New Delhi’s continued purchase of Russian oil. They will apply to a broad range of Indian products listed in the annex to the notice and cover any goods arriving for use or removed from warehouses after the deadline.
Trump targets Moscow’s trading partners
US President Donald Trump has signalled that he could impose additional tariffs on countries trading with Russia or extend sanctions on Moscow if no deal is reached. He warned of "very big consequences" in the coming weeks if progress stalls.
So far, the United States has not imposed similar measures on other major buyers of Russian oil, including China.
Also Read : PM resolute before 50pc US tariff deadline, vows way forward
India’s stern response to Trump tariff
Indian officials have strongly criticised the secondary tariffs, calling them "unfair, unjustified and unreasonable," while expressing hope that progress in peace talks could remove the need for the higher duties.
India reiterated that it would do whatever necessary to protect its national interest and described Washington’s decision to raise the overall tariff rate to 50 per cent as "extremely unfortunate".
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said his government would find a way forward despite the economic pressure from Washington.
"No matter how much pressure comes, we will keep increasing our strength to withstand it. Today, the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan is getting a lot of energy from Gujarat and behind this are two decades of hard work," Modi said in a public address in Ahmedabad.
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