New Delhi: India on Wednesday strongly condemned the latest move by US President Donald Trump to impose a 25% additional tariff on Indian imports, calling it "unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable." The decision, announced through an executive order, comes in response to India’s continued oil trade with Russia, which Washington claims threatens its national security and foreign policy interests.

In an official statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) reiterated India’s position that its oil imports are based on market dynamics and aimed at ensuring energy security for its 1.4 billion citizens. The spokesperson emphasized that India’s trade decisions are in line with its national interests and should not be unfairly penalized. “We will take all necessary measures to protect our national interests,” the MEA stated.

The US has recently increased pressure on India to reduce energy ties with Moscow amid ongoing sanctions on Russia due to the Ukraine conflict. Trump’s executive order specifically targets Indian imports, declaring that goods entering the US will face the new tariff rate unless they are already in transit and cleared before September 17.

India has pointed out that many other countries are also engaging in similar trade practices to secure their energy needs and that singling out New Delhi is both discriminatory and counterproductive. The new tariffs are expected to further strain Indo-US trade relations, which have seen multiple challenges in recent years.