ANKARA

India on Wednesday vowed to take “all steps necessary” to secure “our national interest,” hours after US President Donald Trump announced that the South Asian nation will face a 25% tariff, plus additional penalties, starting Aug. 1.

New Delhi said it “is studying implications” of Trump’s announcement, according to a statement by the Commerce and Industry Ministry.

Stating that 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,” the ministry said: “We remain committed to that objective.”

“The government attaches the utmost importance to protecting and promoting the welfare of our farmers, entrepreneurs, and MSMEs (micro, small and medium enterprises),” it said.

It added: “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.”

Trump announced Wednesday that India will face a 25% tariff, plus additional penalties, starting Aug. 1.

Trump accused New Delhi of unfair trade practices and extensive energy and arms relations with Russia.

"INDIA WILL THEREFORE BE PAYING A TARIFF OF 25%, PLUS A PENALTY FOR THE ABOVE, STARTING ON AUGUST FIRST," he wrote on Truth Social.

Without revealing specifics on the "penalty," Trump criticized India's trade barriers and Russia connections. "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,” he wrote.

US-India trade is substantial, with goods reaching about $129 billion in 2024, and Washington running a $45.7 billion trade deficit, according to the Office of the United States Trade Representative.

Back in New Delhi, the main opposition Congress party urged Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to “stand up to” the US president on tariffs.