Why did things go wrong with India in the tariff case? Now Donald Trump is giving clarification…

Washington. US President Donald Trump on Monday shared a post on his social media platform Truth Social regarding trade relations with India. In this, Trump claimed that India sells huge quantities of goods to the US, while the US is able to sell very few goods to India, which he termed as a ‘one-sided disaster’ that has been going on for decades.

Donald Trump said in his post, ‘Very few people know that we trade very little with India, but it trades with the US on a very large scale. In other words, they sell us huge quantities of goods as their largest customer, but we are able to sell very little to them.’

Accusing India of imposing the highest import duty in the world (import duty on goods coming from other countries), he said that this has made it difficult for American companies to do business in India. Trump also targeted India for buying oil and military equipment from Russia. He said that India buys huge quantities of oil and military equipment from Russia, while buying very little from the US.

Donald Trump has also claimed that India has now offered to minimize its tariffs on US imports, but he described it as a ‘step taken too late’. The US President said, ‘India should have taken this step years ago.’ Trump’s post has come at a time when India-US trade relations have become very tense due to the 50 percent tariff imposed by him.

Donald Trump has imposed 50% tariff on India
Let us tell you that Donald Trump has imposed a 50% tariff on Indian imports. This includes 25% baseline tariff, and 25% is additional tariff as a punishment for buying oil from Russia, which has come into effect from 27 August 2025. Trump’s move has affected India’s sectors like textiles, gems and jewellery and seafood, which are dependent on the US market. The US President alleges that India is indirectly funding Russia for the Ukraine war by buying oil.

On the other hand, India has called this tariff unjust and unfair. India has said that its oil import from Russia is to ensure the energy security of 1.4 billion Indians. The Indian Foreign Ministry also said that many Western countries, including the US and the European Union, themselves trade with Russia, yet India is being unnecessarily targeted. India has made it clear that it will continue to buy oil from Russia, as it is essential for its economic needs.

Trump’s tariff policy can prove to be a turning point for India-US relations, as both countries previously considered each other as strategic partners. Trump’s tough policy has inspired India to strengthen its partnership with countries like Russia and China, which can create new equations in global trade and geopolitics. Russia has been India’s trusted partner for decades. In response to the US tariffs, India has said that it will take every necessary step to protect its national interests.