Trump takes hit on India : 25% TARIFFS AND PENALTY

In a fiery post on Truth Social that read more like a monologue than a policy brief, former president-turned-trade-warrior Donald Trump dropped another economic bombshell — this time aimed squarely at India.

Starting August 1, imports from India to the U.S. will be slapped with a 25% tariff, plus what Trump ominously called a “penalty” for India’s cozy ties with Russia and “obnoxious” trade practices.

“India will therefore be paying a tariff of 25%, PLUS a penalty… THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER. MAGA!”

Trump’s all-caps decree lit up social media and diplomatic circles within minutes.

The move comes just ahead of a Friday deadline Trump set for countries to negotiate new trade deals — a line he says “will not be extended.”

Why the Sudden Snub?

Trump claims India’s tariffs are among the highest in the world, accusing New Delhi of stacking the deck with “strenuous and obnoxious” trade barriers. He also took aim at India’s continued purchase of Russian military equipment and energy — a subtle but sharp geopolitical dig.

But the numbers tell a different story. India’s average tariff on U.S. goods is just 5.2%, and Washington has long relied on Indian imports — worth nearly $90 billion last year — ranging from leather goods and chemicals to agriculture and electronics.

Still, Trump’s second administration is making tariffs the centerpiece of his global economic policy — one that’s rewriting trade rules with a sledgehammer.

Mixed Reactions and Market Shrugs

Wall Street barely blinked. While some companies warn of rising costs, others are already calculating ways to soften the blow. Investors seem more interested in how the drama unfolds than in its actual economic bite — at least for now.

Critics say Trump’s broad-stroke threats and vague follow-through are creating chaos without clarity. But MAGA loyalists see it as Trump playing hardball in a world they say has taken American generosity for granted.

What’s Next?

With tariffs possibly rising to 20% across dozens of countries, Trump is putting the global trading order in a chokehold — and demanding new terms, fast. India, caught in the crossfire between its strategic autonomy and U.S. demands, may soon have to choose: bend, retaliate, or bluff.

And as always with Trump, the line between diplomacy and drama remains razor-thin — and fully televised.