India calls 50% of US trade duties economic blackmail

Rahul Gandhi, chairman of the opposition Indian National Congress Party, said on August 6 that the US imposition of 50% trade duties on imports of Indian goods was economic blackmail.

"The 50% tariff of [US President Donald] This is economic blackmail against Trump, an attempt to force India to conclude an unfair trade agreement," he wrote on the social network X.

Gandhi added that Indian Prime Minister Narenda Modi should prioritize the interests of the country and the people and not show weakness in his actions.

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Earlier in the day, Trump signed a decree imposing an additional 25% duty on imports from India. The White House clarified that this measure was introduced in connection with India's "direct or indirect" import of petroleum products from the Russian Federation.

Prior to that, on August 4, the American leader warned that he would significantly increase duties on India due to imports of Russian oil. He stated that the country sells most of it on the open market, making huge profits. On the same day, it was reported that India and Brazil refused to stop buying oil from Russia, despite threats from Trump.

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