Trump imposed additional tariffs on India to create ‘secondary pressure’ on Russia over Ukraine war, says White House

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump doubled India’s tariffs to 50% as part of measures meant to push Russia to stop the Ukraine war.

US President Donald Trump has announced new higher tariffs on Indian goods as part of his plan to pressure Russia to end the war in Ukraine, the White House said on Tuesday. Trump has decided to double tariffs on India to 50 per cent by adding an extra 25 per cent duty. The new rates will come into effect on August 27.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that the president was putting strong public pressure to stop the war. She said Trump had already taken steps, including sanctions on India, to create “secondary pressure” on Moscow.

This decision comes just a few days after Trump met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House. Both leaders suggested that progress had been made toward possible three-way talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump called the meeting “a very successful day,” while Zelenskyy said it was the “best conversation” he had had with the US president so far.

According to ANI, Leavitt added that Trump was keen to move the peace process forward quickly.