Labor & Employment Law Daily Wrap Up, VITAL BRIEFING—Trump directs his anti-Russian ire at India, sets 50 percent tariff rate for the subcontinent, (Aug 8, 2025)

By Thomas Thompson

President Trump’s recent executive order directed towards India, which “stacks” a new 25 percent levy on top the 25 percent tariff set by the president last week, is scheduled to come into effect on August 27th.

In this Vital Briefing, Thomas Thompson explores President Trump’s aggressive approach in doubling the tariffs on goods imported from India after it demonstrated support of the Russian economy through continued oil imports, despite Russia’ ongoing military aggression in Ukraine. The administration’s tariff actions come even though the president previously lauded the U.S.’ “special bond” with India and welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi as one of the first world leaders to visit the White House at the onset of his second term. Additionally, as recently as July, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt described India “a very strategic ally in the Asia Pacific” and confirmed the president’s “very good” relationship with the prime minster.

India now joins Brazil with a 50 percent tariff rate, the highest “reciprocal” rate announced so far outside of China. In both of those cases, the president defended the extraordinary tariff level by pointing to political rather than for trade-based justifications. In the case of Brazil, the reason was the prosecution of former President Jair Bolsonaro. With India, the high tariffs result from purchasing Russian oil.

To read the article, click Trump directs his anti-Russian ire at India, sets 50 percent tariff rate for the subcontinent.

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