Overview

• Trump told Fox News that imposing a 50% duty on Indian imports tied to purchases of Russian oil was “not an easy thing to do” and that it “causes a rift with India.”
• The current levy reflects a 25% reciprocal tariff plus an additional 25% linked to India’s Russian crude buying, a policy New Delhi has called unfair and unreasonable.
• John Bolton said Peter Navarro once tried to provoke a clash between Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi by steering a strategic leaders’ meeting into trade grievances.
• Bolton criticized the tariff strategy as inappropriate and erratic, urged India to use quiet diplomacy, and suggested treating Trump as a short‑term factor in a longer partnership.
• Despite the friction, both sides signaled talks are back on track, with Trump and Modi exchanging positive messages and indicating plans to speak in the coming weeks.