Trump ratchets up pressure on key partner for buying Russian oil

(Daily Caller News Foundation) – President Donald Trump followed through on his promise to implement 50% tariffs on India as punishment for continuing to purchase Russian oil and gas.

The tariffs climbed to some of the highest rates among U.S. trade partners after Trump’s 21-day deadline for India, enacted on Aug. 6, expired today. India remains one of Russia’s most loyal customers for oil, importing approximately 1.75 million barrels per day between January and June 2025.

The tariffs have been accompanied by significant outcry from India, who see the move as potentially damaging to the nation’s relationship.

The White House and the Indian Ministry of External Affairs did not respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.

The Trump administration has been attempting to put an economic squeeze on Russia to increase the likelihood that Russian President Vladimir Putin will come to the peace table. The U.S. has also threatened to put secondary tariffs on buyers of key Russian goods.

Trump initially imposed a 25% tariff on India on July 30, then doubled the impending tariffs to 50% on Aug. 6. Trump stressed in a July Truth Social post that India could not buy Russian oil “at a time when everyone wants Russia to STOP THE KILLING IN UKRAINE.”

Some experts have warned that India cannot wean off Russian oil supply so quickly, and that the tariffs may excessively strain Indian and American relations. India is one of the U.S. largest trading partners, the two exchanging $212.3 billion worth of goods and services in 2024, up over 8% from 2023, according to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.

Trump has been a long-standing critic of India’s trade policy towards American goods, saying India was having a “field day” with the U.S. in an unbalanced trade relationship in 2019.