One of the countries that the U.S. continued to negotiate with in the waning days before the reciprocal tariffs deadline on July 31, in hopes of getting a fair deal, was India. In fact, on June 30, President Trump told reporters that the White House was still "talking with" them:

They have one of the highest tariffs in the world now, they're willing to cut it very substantially. We're talking to India now - we'll see what happens ... You'll know by the end of this week.

The president added that the tariff on products imported from India would be 25 percent on Aug. 1, "as well as an unspecified penalty."

Here's more of what he said about the reason behind the penalty:

What the penalty would be was not clear. Trump indicated initially, in a post on the Truth Social website, that the penalty was a response to India buying Russian arms and oil and its "obnoxious non-monetary Trade Barriers."

When asked about the penalty later at the White House, he said it was partly due to trade issues and partly because of India's involvement in the BRICS group of developing nations, which he described as hostile to the U.S.

The U.S. has made major inroads on crafting trade deals ahead of the deadline, as we've written, including with Mexico and the EU.

Read More: Trump Administration Announces Agreement to Extend Tariff Talks With Mexico Past Aug. 1 Deadline

BREAKING: President Trump Announces 'Biggest Trade Deal Ever' With the European Union

On Monday, President Trump took to his Truth Social account, clarifying the reasons for the higher tariff, writing that India's continued oil purchases from Russia then reselling it, despite the ongoing war with Ukraine, will earn it a penalty on trade with the U.S.

"India is not only buying massive amounts of Russian Oil, they are then, for much of the Oil purchased, selling it on the Open Market for big profits. They don’t care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine," Trump said in a post on Truth Social. Because of this, I will be substantially raising the Tariff paid by India to the USA. Thank you for your attention to this matter!!!     President DJT"

How much oil does India buy from Russia?

Russia continued to be the top oil supplier to India during the first six months of 2025, making up 35% of overall supplies.

While the president didn't state what the additional levy will be, it could be related to India's membership in BRICS, which he addressed in early July:

"Any Country aligning themselves with the Anti-American policies of BRICS, will be charged an ADDITIONAL 10% Tariff. There will be no exceptions to this policy. Thank you for your attention to this matter!" Trump said in a post on Truth Social.

As this is a developing story, RedState will provide updates as more information becomes available.

Editor's Note: Thanks to President Trump’s leadership and bold policies, America’s economy is back on track.

Help us continue to report on the president’s economic successes and combat the lies of the Democrats. Join RedState VIP and use promo code FIGHT to get 60% off your membership.