New Delhi: Former U.S. President Donald Trump launched a scathing attack on India’s trade practices and its relationship with Russia, announcing a 25% tariff on Indian imports. Taking to his social media platform Truth Social, Trump dismissed concerns over New Delhi’s growing ties with Moscow, declaring, “I don’t care what India does with Russia. They can take their dead economies down together, for all I care.”
Trump accused India of imposing excessively high tariffs and maintaining non-monetary trade barriers, which he claimed have severely limited U.S.-India business relations. “India has some of the highest tariffs in the world,” he said. “We’ve done very little business with them because of that.”
The tariff move, effective August 1, also comes amid heightened scrutiny over India’s defence and energy partnerships with Russia. “At a time when the world wants Russia to stop the killing in Ukraine, India continues to buy weapons and energy from them. That’s not good,” Trump stated.
Despite the tough stance, Trump signalled that negotiations were ongoing. “We are talking to them now. Let’s see what happens. They are now willing to cut tariffs substantially,” he said, while also expressing willingness to reach a trade agreement.
He referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a “friend” but reiterated that India, as a BRICS member, is part of an economic group “that is anti-United States.” Trump warned that BRICS, which includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, is attempting to weaken the U.S. dollar. “It’s an attack on the dollar, and we’re not going to let anybody attack the dollar,” he warned, hinting at a possible 10% tariff on all BRICS nations.
Trump also targeted former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, who had criticised his foreign policy as escalating tensions. In response, Trump said Medvedev was “entering dangerous territory” and warned of consequences for threatening the U.S.
Trump concluded his remarks with a characteristic sign-off: “THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER. MAGA!”
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