Overview

• President Trump called the India–U.S. trade relationship a "totally one sided disaster" and claimed India offered to cut tariffs to zero, without specifying timing or terms.
• The White House’s 50% duties on Indian goods are in force after a 25% reciprocal tariff and an additional 25% levy tied to purchases and resale of Russian oil took effect by August 27.
• At the SCO summit in Tianjin, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held visibly cordial meetings with China’s Xi Jinping and Russia’s Vladimir Putin, reinforcing India’s emphasis on strategic autonomy.
• Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent labeled the SCO gathering "largely performative," said "two great countries will get this solved," and criticized India’s Russian oil buys and resales as financing the war in Ukraine.
• Trade adviser Peter Navarro escalated rhetoric by calling India a "laundromat for the Kremlin" and alleging "Brahmins profiteering," while India has defended Russian oil imports as essential for energy security.