'Unfortunate, govt will take appropriate steps': BJP MP as Trump announces 25% tariffs on India

US President Donald Trump

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has termed US President Donald Trump’s announcement of the imposition of a 25 per cent tariff on India -- along with a penalty starting from August 1, 2025 -- as “unfortunate”.

Reacting to the announcement, BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal stated that the Indian government would take appropriate steps in this regard. “This is unfortunate and I am sure that the Government of India will take appropriate steps in this regard. Trade and industry will depend on what the Government of India decides,” he said.

Trump, announcing the tariff on his social media platform Truth Social, listed India's high tariffs, its procurement of "vast majority" of military equipment and energy from Russia as well as "obnoxious non-monetary trade barriers".

India will be paying a "tariff of 25 per cent plus a penalty" from August 1, he announced.

The US president, however, described India as a "friend". “While India is our friend, we have, over the years, done relatively little business with them because their tariffs are far too high, among the highest in the world, and they have the most strenuous and obnoxious non-monetary trade barriers of any country,” he said.

Also, they have always bought a vast majority of their military equipment from Russia, and are Russia's largest buyer of energy, along with China, at a time when everyone wants Russia to stop the killing in Ukraine, he said.

"All things not good! India will therefore be paying a tariff of 25 per cent plus a penalty for the above starting on August 1," the US president said.

On Trump's move, BJP MP Ashok Chavan told ANI, "..I don't think President Trump's decision comes after a consensus or a mutual discussion. Our minister of commerce was in regular touch with the US administration... Any scope of appeal or discussion must be duly addressed so that India doesn't face any losses."