By John Q. Hosedrinker 
Following an executive order by US President Trump imposing a 25% tariff on Indian imports due to continued oil trade with Russia, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a strong response. The MEA condemned the tariff increase as unfair and unreasonable. In defense of its national interests, India declared it would take all necessary measures. The increase brings the total tariff on Indian goods to 50%.
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India calls additional US tariff ‘unfair, unjustified and unreasonable’, says will take actions to protect national interests. It’s pretty clear things are heating up in the international trade arena, and India is not happy. The US has slapped on some new tariffs, and the Indian government is responding with some strong words and a promise to protect its national interests. It appears there’s a lot more going on beneath the surface than just a simple trade dispute.
So, what’s the deal? Well, the US has imposed these additional tariffs, and India’s immediate response is a firm declaration that these measures are “unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable.” That’s not exactly a recipe for a friendly chat over tea. The Indian government is essentially signaling that it believes these tariffs are unwarranted and potentially harmful to its economic interests. The fact that India is even using such strong language tells you how seriously they’re taking this.
It seems like a key part of the issue revolves around oil. There’s a strong belief that the US is trying to pressure India into buying its oil, even though India has been sourcing oil from Russia, as suggested by a conference in 2024 where Eric Garcetti, the US Ambassador to India at the time, mentioned this. It might be that the U.S. is trying to get India to stop buying oil from Russia, potentially to drive up global oil prices. If India starts buying more expensive oil from the Gulf nations, which in turn have invested heavily in US assets and weapons, the implications of this move could be significant.
There is talk of how this could benefit the US economy. The money India spends on higher-priced oil eventually flows into the American economy, especially if the Gulf nations increase their revenue because of increased prices and then, in turn, invest in the US. And you can imagine, in a world where nations are closely intertwined through trade, any significant shift in this kind of dynamic can have ripple effects.
The fact that the Indian government is talking about protecting its “national interests” is a pretty broad statement. This could mean anything from retaliatory tariffs to exploring other trade relationships to protect its economy from negative effects. There are suggestions that India might look at imposing its own measures against US tech giants operating within its borders, or strengthening its relationships with BRICS and ASEAN nations. The implication here is that India isn’t just going to sit back and take it.
There’s also a sense that India might be feeling a bit betrayed. There’s mention of past displays of camaraderie, such as rallies, between the leaders of the two countries. Now it seems like those days are gone, and India is facing the consequences. The sentiment that Modi “deepthroated Trump” and this is what he received in return sums up the apparent feeling of disillusionment.
Many questions arise. Will India try to get closer to China as an alliance, as some suggest? Or will India go back to its roots with Russia, as others propose? It’s interesting how the idea of de-dollarization is in the background of the discussion, with India looking for ways to reduce its dependence on the US dollar.
The whole situation is complex, with many people pointing out that the tariffs might not even affect the majority of Indian exports, such as Pharma, tech, and services, which might be exempt. Many express the opinion that Trump is using these tactics just to give his voters the impression that he is doing something to protect their country.
Furthermore, the context surrounding these tariffs is important. The US stance on buying oil from Russia, which continues to import palladium, nickel, uranium, and certain fertilizers, raises some uncomfortable questions. It is a reminder that the world of international trade and politics is often a lot messier than it seems. The fact that India is ready to “hit back” suggests that we might be witnessing the beginning of the end of the US-dominated world order.