India says Trump raising tariffs to 50% ‘extremely unfortunate'

ANKARA

India said Wednesday it was “extremely unfortunate” that US President Donald Trump raised tariffs to 50% on India for “actions that several other countries are also taking in their own national interest.”

The actions are “unfair, unjustified and unreasonable,” said the Foreign Ministry.

It said India “will take all actions necessary to protect its national interests.”

“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 said.

India’s comments were in response to Trump signing an executive order imposing an additional 25% tariff, above an initial 25% levies, on India in response to its continued purchase of Russian oil.

Trump said: "To deal with the national emergency described in Executive Order 14066, I determine that it is necessary and appropriate to impose an additional ad valorem duty on imports of articles of India, which is directly or indirectly importing Russian Federation oil.”

The president indicated Tuesday that the US will "make that determination" about sanctions on countries that purchase Russian oil after talks between US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Russian officials in Moscow.

Trump accuses New Delhi of profiting from the resale of Russian oil.

Senior Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi wrote on X, "Trump’s 50% tariff is economic blackmail - an attempt to bully India into an unfair trade deal. PM Modi better not let his weakness override the interests of the Indian people."