‘Unfair, unjustifiable’ is how India responds to Trump’s 25% tariff increase.

The Indian government said it will take action to “protect national interest” shortly after US President Donald Trump declared an additional 25 percent against India.

The Ministry of External Affairs in an official statement described the increased tariffs and targeting of New Delhi as “unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable.”

“We have already made clear our position on these issues, including the fact that our imports are based on market factors and done with the overall objective of ensuring the energy security of 1.4 billion people of India,” stated MEA.

“It is therefore extremely unfortunate that the US should choose to impose additional tariffs on India for actions that several other countries are also taking in their own national interest,” the Indian administration went on to say.

“It is therefore extremely unfortunate that the US should choose to impose additional tariffs on India for actions that several other countries are also taking in their own national interest,” the Indian government continued.

“It is therefore extremely unfortunate that the US should choose to impose additional tariffs on India for actions that several other countries are also taking in their own national interest,” further stated the Indian government.

Statement by Official Spokesperson⬇️
🔗 https://t.co/BNwLm9YmJc pic.twitter.com/DsvRvhd61D

— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) August 6, 2025

Trump issued an executive order earlier Wednesday that will impose an additional 25 percent tariff on India for its purchases of Russian oil.

The US president’s action coincides with mounting pressure on Vladimir Putin and Russia to agree to a truce in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

India had earlier called Trump’s threats against it “unjustified and unreasonable” and charged that New Delhi was being unfairly singled out by the US and EU because of its commerce with Russia.

“India imports are intended to give Indian consumers predictable and reasonably priced energy costs. They are required by the state of the global market. The fact that the same countries that are criticizing India are also engaging in commerce with Russia, however, is telling. In contrast to our situation, the MEA stated in its earlier declaration that such commerce is not even an essential national compulsion.

The United States levied a 25 percent tax on India on August 1. President Trump claims that New Delhi’s tariffs on American goods are “the highest in the world,” which is why this decision was made.

The Republican leader went on to say that India was penalized by the tariffs because of its trade with Russia and membership in the BRICS bloc, which Trump claims is “anti-American.”