Trump hits India with 25% import tariffs
Trump confirmed on his Truth social account that India would be subjected to tariffs of 25% on imports to the US from Friday.
Donald Trump signs an executive order to start reciprocal tariffs on many other nations, effective at midnight, on 3 April 2025. Picture: Andrew Leyden/NurPhoto/NurPhoto via AFP
JOHANNESBURG - As time runs out for countries across the world to seal a win-win trade deal with the US, President Donald Trump has announced his latest decision on India.
Trump confirmed on his Truth social account that India would be subjected to tariffs of 25% on imports to the US from Friday.
India is among more than 180 countries threatened with higher levies on goods shipped into the US in what the superpower said was part of efforts to even out trade deficits.
Trump said the US had done little business with India over the years, citing its over-the-top tariffs.
He said that India had "the most strenuous and obnoxious non-monetary trade barriers of any country".
In his short statement published on Truth at 2pm local time, Trump said "India has always bought a vast majority of their military equipment from Russia and are Russia’s largest buyer of energy at a time when everyone wants Russia to stop the war in Ukraine".
As a result of its trade policy, Trump said there will be an additional penalty for India, in addition to a tariff of 25%.
The weight of the penalty has not yet been disclosed.
South Africa is also among countries served with a warning for a 30% levy when the 1 August deadline hits.
South Africa’s trade leaders say they are still negotiating for favourable terms, with less than two days to go before the threats take effect.