Trump’s tariff order denies exemptions to India; ‘one of the toughest trade actions…’
US President Donald Trump is aiming to set an example with India in his ongoing trade and tariff conflict, according to the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI). Trump has imposed a 25% tariff on Indian goods, effective from August 7, 2025. He has criticised India by referring to it as a “dead economy” and has expressed dissatisfaction with the BRICS group, of which India is a member.
GTRI founder Ajay Srivastava stated that the “blanket tariff” on India represents one of the most severe trade actions the US has taken against its trading partners in recent years. “Countries like China have retained exemptions on critical goods like pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, and energy. But India has been singled out for harsher treatment, with no product-level exemptions whatsoever. The message is clear – agree to US geopolitical views, sign a deal or suffer blanket tariffs – and India is being made the example for others,” he said, according to a PTI report.