The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released a notice on Monday affirming its intention to enforce the 25% tariff increase declared by President Donald Trump on August 6, targeting India over its ongoing imports of Russian oil. The DHS, through Customs and Border Protection, released the notice confirming the imposition of new tariffs under Executive Order 14329, authorized by Trump. The move targets Indian imports as part of a wider U.S. effort to pressure nations that continue commercial relations with Russia.
“The duties set out in the Annex to this document are effective with respect to products of India that are entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on August 27, 2025,” the DHS notification read.
This adds to the existing 25% tariff already imposed by the U.S. president on New Delhi, bringing the total duty to a steep 50%. With this rate, India now joins Brazil among the countries facing the highest trade barriers globally.
Relations between India and the United States have become strained in recent weeks, as Trump has criticized India for its ongoing imports of Russian oil.
Trump cautioned that countries maintaining close ties with Russia could face ‘very big consequences,’ though key oil importers such as China have not yet been penalized. Meanwhile, Indian authorities criticized the tariffs as ‘unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable,’ while voicing optimism that ongoing diplomatic efforts might lead to a reversal of the decision.
Notably, mobile phones and pharmaceutical products, two of India’s major exports to the U.S., will remain excluded from the current tariffs.
Indian export associations project that nearly 55% of the country’s $87 billion in goods shipped to the U.S. could be impacted by Trump’s tariff policies, giving an advantage to rival exporters like Vietnam, Bangladesh, and China.
