Overview

• In a CNBC interview on August 5, Trump vowed to raise US duties on Indian goods within 24 hours, calling India “not a good trading partner.”
• Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova denounced the tariff threat as a tool of US hegemony and voiced support for India’s stance.
• Analysts warn that persistent US tariff pressure could drive Russia, India and China toward a formal strategic alignment dubbed the RICH bloc.
• The Government of India is weighing reciprocal levies on US imports, diversifying export markets, boosting Make in India production and offering targeted subsidies.
• Concerns over the dispute’s impact have led analysts to trim India’s growth forecasts as trade tensions and policy uncertainty rise.