India Stands Firm Against US Tariff Hike Over Russian Oil, Vows to Protect Farmers & Diversify Global Trade

India Affirms Energy Security and Farmers’ Welfare Amid US Doubling Tariffs to 50% 

India has strongly criticized US President Donald Trump’s decision to double tariffs on Indian goods to 50%, describing it as ‘unfair’ and ‘unjustified.’

The hike, announced on August 6 and set to take effect on August 27, is tied to New Delhi’s continued imports of Russian oil, a policy India defends as critical for energy security and economic stability.

“This is a temporary anomaly… in course of time, the world will find solutions,” External Affairs Ministry secretary for economic relations, Dammu Ravi, said.

He indicated that if Washington were a challenging export market, India would turn towards alternative markets in the Middle East, Latin America, Africa, and South Asia.

Trump Closes Door on Talks

During a discussion in the Oval Office, Trump stated that he would not restart trade talks until the tariff dispute was resolved. “No, not until we get it resolved,” he stated.

The move is part of a broader US policy of curbing Moscow’s oil earnings and pushing President Vladimir Putin to stop the Ukraine war. India now joins Brazil at the highest tariff rate imposed by the US.

New Delhi Constructs Diplomatic Counterweight

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Thursday evening and decided to collaborate through BRICS to meet the tariff challenge. Brazil, like India, has been severely affected by American action.

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin received India’s National Security Adviser Ajit Doval in Moscow, reiterating their ‘strategic partnership’. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will soon visit Russia, with the Russian President also due in India later this year.

China Visit Suggests Recalibration

The Indian Prime Minister is also preparing for his first visit to China in over seven years. He will attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Tianjin from August 31 to September 1, and he plans to hold a bilateral meeting with President Xi Jinping on the sidelines.

China’s ambassador to India, Xu Feihong, voiced support for New Delhi’s position, warning on X: “Give the bully an inch, he will take a mile.”

No Compromise on Farmers: PM Modi

PM Modi, speaking publicly after announcing the tariffs for the first time, insisted that India would never bargain the well-being of its farmers, dairy industry, and fishermen. “For us, welfare of our farmers is paramount… and I know I will have to pay a heavy price for it,” he said.

A Standoff With Broader Implications

The tariff confrontation is more than a unilateral trade conflict between economic policy and geopolitical alliances. For India, the reaction will not simply be coping with an export blow but reconfiguring partnerships in an evolving world order. As Washington ratchets the heat, New Delhi seems set to push back, in Moscow, Beijing, and across the Global South.