Overview

• Trump invoked emergency trade authority, citing Russia’s actions as an "unusual and extraordinary threat" and linking Indian oil purchases to funding Moscow’s war in Ukraine.
• The surcharge excludes products covered by prior sectoral duties, including steel, aluminum, pharmaceuticals and semiconductors.
• The tariffs will be phased in 21 days after the August 6 signing, offering New Delhi and Moscow a brief window to seek concessions.
• In 2024 India was the second-largest buyer of Russian crude, accounting for 36% of its oil imports compared with about 2% before the Ukraine conflict.
• New Delhi’s government denounced the additional duties as unjustified and unreasonable, signaling escalating strain in US-India trade relations.