The United States announced a fresh slew of additional tariffs of 10 percent and an additional duty of 12.5 percent on key global economies, according to gdelt. The announcement was accompanied by a claim that investigations had revealed goods imported from 60 countries were produced via forced labour. The Office of the United States Trade Representative listed 54 economies, including India, in the tariff schedule, gdelt reported. President Donald Trump also announced reciprocal tariffs of 25 percent on Indian goods and an unspecified penalty for India buying oil and arms from Russia, gdelt noted. In the same briefing, Trump expressed confidence that Washington and New Delhi would soon reach a trade agreement and described Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a “good friend,” gdelt said.

India responded to the tariff threats with Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal asserting in Parliament that all necessary steps will be taken to secure and advance national interest, thehindubusinessline.com reported.

Trump made several adverse statements about India’s economic policies, including saying, “I don’t care what India does with Russia. They can take their dead economies down together, for all I care,” thehindubusinessline.com quoted. He also said he had struck a deal with Pakistan for extracting oil and that “We are in the process of choosing the Oil Company,” thehindubusinessline.com added.

The series of announcements and comments highlighted escalating trade tensions between the United States and India, with both sides signalling further diplomatic and economic actions.