Trump’s move to raise U.S. tariffs on Indian goods to 50%, citing India’s continued purchase of Russian oil—is not mere trade policy. This is economic warfare aimed at coercing a sovereign nation into aligning its energy policy with U.S. geopolitical objectives.

By linking trade penalties to India’s independent oil sourcing decisions, Washington is attacking India’s strategic autonomy in energy procurement. This is a direct attempt to limit New Delhi’s ability to secure affordable and diversified energy supplies for its 1.4-billion-strong population.

The tariffs threaten key export sectors, gems & jewellery, textiles, auto components, while spooking global investors, already triggering $2.9 billion capital outflows in recent weeks. The goal is to inflict enough pain to force policy reversal, classic economic warfare doctrine.

While India is being punished for Russian oil imports, U.S. allies in Europe continue similar purchases without comparable penalties. The U.S. itself buys Russian-origin goods via intermediaries. Selective enforcement exposes the double standards in Washington’s approach.

China faces a 30% tariff; India faces 50%. This disproportionality underscores that the intent is not just “reciprocity,” but strategic targeting of a rising competitor in the Indo-Pacific.

Decades of U.S.–India strategic engagement are being undercut by unilateral economic aggression. Actions like this force India to reconsider the reliability of the U.S. as a security and trade partner in the evolving global order.

This is coercive statecraft by economic means, a textbook case of economic warfare, designed to undermine India’s energy security and strategic decision-making while dressing the move in the language of “fair trade.” For India, the response must combine diversification of markets, deeper South-South trade links, and stronger resilience in critical sectors.