US Issues Notice On Additional 25% Tariffs On India

By Deepak Arora

WASHINGTON: The Donald Trump administration has officially issued a notice regarding the imposition of an additional 25 per cent tariffs on Indian imports, with the punitive duties set to kick in at 12:01 am (EST) on August 27. The notice, issued by the Department of Homeland Security, stated the new levies were in response to "threats to the United States by the Government of the Russian Federation," and India was being targeted as part of that policy....more

India must take Trump's point over Russian oil seriously; Find solution with White House: Nikki Haley

By Deepak Arora

NEW YORK: Donald Trump's Indian-American Republican colleague, Nikki Haley, on Sunday warned India over its Russian oil imports and asked to work on a solution with the White House "sooner the better". According to her, "decades of friendship" would provide a basis to "move past the turbulence" - referring to the ongoing tariff tensions....more

Trump Gives Hamas 3-4 Days To Reply To Peace Plan, Warns Of 'Sad End'

WASHINGTON, Sept 30: US President Donald Trump has said that Hamas has three to four days to respond to his 20-point peace proposal. The plan calls for a ceasefire, release of hostages by Hamas within 72 hours, disarmament of Hamas and Israel's gradual withdrawal from Gaza. It also proposes a post-war transitional authority headed by Trump himself.

Trump, while answering questions at the White House, said that he will give Hamas about 3-4 days to respond to his peace plan. He said that the rest of the parties involved are all signed up, and they are just waiting for Hamas.

Trump issued a harsh warning, "All of the Arab countries are signed up. The Muslim countries are all signed up. Israel is all signed up. We're just waiting for Hamas, and Hamas is either going to be doing it or not, and if it's not, it's going to be a very sad end."

The Republican leader's comments come a day after he unveiled the 20-point peace plan.

"Hamas has begun a series of consultations within its political and military leaderships, both inside Palestine and abroad," said a Palestinian source. "The discussions could take several days due to the complexities."

On Monday, Trump described the announcement of the plan as a "beautiful day -- potentially one of the greatest days ever in civilisation".

While holding a press conference with Trump, Netanyahu warned, "I support your plan to end the war in Gaza, which achieves our war aims," adding, "If Hamas rejects your plan, President, or if they supposedly accept it and then basically do everything to counter it, then Israel will finish the job by itself."

The war in Gaza was triggered by an attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023. The attack killed 1,219 people in Israel.

The offensive by Israel has reduced much of Gaza to rubble and killed 66,055 Palestinians, according to figures by the health ministry.

US Orders 'Male-Level' Fitness, Ends 'Woke' Rules For Military Troops

WASHINGTON, Sept 30: US President Donald Trump revealed that he wants to use American cities as training grounds for the armed forces and joined Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth on Tuesday in declaring an end to "woke" culture before an unusual gathering of hundreds of top US military officials who were abruptly summoned to Virginia from around the world.

Hegseth announced new directives for troops that include "gender-neutral" or "male-level" standards for physical fitness, while Trump bragged about US nuclear capabilities and warned that "America is under invasion from within."

"After spending trillions of dollars defending the borders of foreign countries, with your help we're defending the borders of our country," Trump said.

Hegseth had called military leaders to the Marine Corps base in Quantico, near Washington, without publicly revealing the reason until this morning. His address largely focused on his own long-used talking points that painted a picture of a military that has been hamstrung by "woke" policies, and he said military leaders should "do the honourable thing and resign" if they don't like his new approach.

Meetings between top military brass and civilian leaders are nothing new, but the gathering had fuelled intense speculation about the summit's purpose given the haste with which it was called and the mystery surrounding it.

Admirals and generals from conflict zones in the Middle East and elsewhere were summoned for a lecture on race and gender in the military, underscoring the extent to which the country's culture wars have emerged as a front-and-centre agenda item for Hegseth's Pentagon, even at a time of broad national security concerns across the globe.

During his nearly hour-long speech, Hegseth said the US military has promoted too many leaders for the wrong reasons based on race, gender quotas and "historic firsts".

"The era of politically correct, overly sensitive, don't-hurt-anyone's-feelings leadership ends right now at every level," Hegseth said.

That was echoed by Trump, who said, "The purpose of the American military is not to protect anyone's feelings. It's to protect our republic.″

"We will not be politically correct when it comes to defending American freedom," Trump said. "And we will be a fighting and winning machine."

Hegseth said he is loosening disciplinary rules and weakening hazing protections, putting a heavy focus on removing many of the guardrails the military had put in place after numerous scandals and investigations

He said he was ordering a review of "the department's definitions of so-called toxic leadership, bullying and hazing to empower leaders to enforce standards without fear of retribution or second-guessing."

The defence secretary called for "changes to the retention of adverse information on personnel records that will allow leaders with forgivable, earnest, or minor infractions to not be encumbered by those infractions in perpetuity."

"People make honest mistakes, and our mistakes should not define an entire career," Hegseth said. "Otherwise, we only try not to make mistakes."

Bullying and toxic leadership have been the suspected and confirmed causes behind numerous military suicides over the past several years, including the very dramatic suicide of Brandon Caserta, a young sailor who was bullied into killing himself in 2018.

A Navy investigation found that Caserta's supervisor's "noted belligerence, vulgarity and brash leadership was likely a significant contributing factor in (the sailor)'s decision to end his own life."

Hegseth used the platform to slam environmental policies and transgender troops while talking up his and Trump's focus on "the warrior ethos" and "peace through strength".

Hegseth said the department has been told from previous administrations that "our diversity is our strength," which he called an "insane fallacy".

"They had to put out dizzying DEI and LGBTQE+ statements. They were told females and males are the same thing, or that males who think they're females is totally normal," he said, adding the use of electric tanks and the COVID vaccine requirements to the list as mistaken policies.

Hegseth said this is not about preventing women from serving.

"But when it comes to any job that requires physical power to perform in combat, those physical standards must be high and gender neutral," he said. "If women can make it excellent, if not, it is what it is. If that means no women qualify for some combat jobs, so be it. That is not the intent, but it could be the result."

Hegseth's speech came as the country faces a potential government shutdown this week and as Hegseth, who has hammered home a focus on lethality, has taken several unusual and unexplained actions, including ordering cuts to the number of general officers and firings of other top military leaders.

Hegseth has championed the military's role in securing the US-Mexico border, deploying to American cities as part of Trump's law enforcement surges, and carrying out strikes on boats in the Caribbean that the administration says targeted drug traffickers.

Trump To Impose 100% Tariffs On Films Made Outside US, Threatens Tax On Furniture

WASHINGTON, Sept 29: US President Donald Trump has announced "a 100% Tariff on any and all movies that are made outside of the United States" and "substantial tariffs on any country that does not make its furniture in the United States".

In a post in Trust Social, President Trump said the "movie making business" of the US has been stolen by other countries like "candy from a baby."

"California, with its weak and incompetent Governor, has been particularly hard hit! Therefore, in order to solve this long time, never ending problem, I will be imposing a 100% Tariff on any and all movies that are made outside of the United States," his post read.

In another post shortly after, President Trump said, "In order to make North Carolina, which has completely lost its furniture business to China, and other Countries, GREAT again, I will be imposing substantial Tariffs on any Country that does not make its furniture in the United States".

"Details to follow," he had added.

Hollywood, once a byword for American films, has been struggling lately, with streaming platforms making viewers less keen to go to movie theatres. There has been a significant drop in box office sales followed by a cut in production.

In 2023 and 2024, there have been strikes by the Writers Guild and the labour unions that also led to massive losses. The estimated loss in 2023 alone was $5 billion. And reports say that the jobs lost because of the strike are yet to be recovered.

In August, President Trump said his team has launched an investigation into all furniture coming into the US.

"Within the next 50 days, that investigation will be completed, and furniture coming from other countries into the United States will be tariffed at a rate yet to be determined. This will bring the furniture business back to North Carolina, South Carolina, Michigan and states all across the Union," his post read.

On Thursday, he had announced a fresh round of tariffs, focusing on specific items like kitchen cabinets and furniture, which will take effect on October 1. "We will be imposing a 50% Tariff on all Kitchen Cabinets, Bathroom Vanities, and associated products, starting October 1st, 2025. Additionally, we will be charging a 30% Tariff on Upholstered Furniture," he had said in a post on Truth Social.

Jobs for furniture and wood product manufacturing have been cut in half since 2000, it has been reported. In 2024, the US imported furniture worth around $25.5 billion, with more than half of those imports coming from Vietnam and China

Trump hints at ‘something special’ in West Asia talks

WASHINGTON, Sept 28: U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday hinted at a breakthrough in the Middle East crisis, saying “all are on board for something special,” on the eve of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to the White House.

“We have a real chance for GREATNESS IN THE MIDDLE EAST,” Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform. “ALL ARE ON BOARD FOR SOMETHING SPECIAL, FIRST TIME EVER. WE WILL GET IT DONE!!!”

Earlier Friday, Trump had told reporters in Washington “I think we have a deal” on Gaza. “I think it’s a deal that will get the hostages back, I think it’s a deal that will end the war.”

Netanyahu’s meeting with Trump at the White House on Monday comes days after the U.S. President unveiled a 21-point plan aimed at ending the war in the Palestinian territory during discussions with Arab and Muslim leaders on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.

And it is happening as international isolation of Israel deepens with countries including Britain, France, Canada and Australia officially recognizing Palestinian statehood, breaking with longstanding U.S.-led diplomatic protocols.

Trump’s plan envisions a permanent ceasefire, the release of hostages, an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and a major influx of humanitarian aid.

Arab and Muslim leaders welcomed the proposal but have also called for an immediate halt to Israel’s military operations and any occupation of Gaza.

3 Dead, Many Injured As Gunman On Boat Fires At US Restaurant

NORTH CAROLINA, Sept 28: An active shooter opened fire from a boat at a restaurant in North Carolina, killing at least three people and leaving several others injured before fleeing the scene, authorities confirmed.

The shooting occurred around 9:30 p.m. on Saturday (local time) at the American Fish Company, a popular pub and restaurant located at 150 Yacht Basin Drive in the Southport Yacht Basin area, about 20 miles south of Wilmington.

According to police, at least seven people were shot during the attack, including three who were pronounced dead at the scene.

The other victims were transported to local hospitals, though officials have not yet released details about their conditions.

1 Killed, 9 Injured In Shooting At Mormon Church In Michigan, Police Say Shooter Is Down

MICHIGAN, Sept 28: A gunman opened fire inside a Michigan church during Sunday services before apparently setting the building ablaze, killing at least one person and injuring nine before police shot him, authorities said.

Hundreds of people were inside The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township when a 40-year-old man rammed his vehicle into the front door, then exited the vehicle and started shooting, Police Chief William Renye told reporters.

The suspect is believed to have set the church on fire, Renye said. Flames and smoke could be seen for hours before the blaze was put out. First responders were then sifting through the wreckage.

'We Have A Deal On Gaza, Hostages Could Soon Be Freed': Trump

WASHINGTON, Sept 26: President Donald Trump said on Friday that he is close to a deal to end the war in Gaza and bring hostages home.

"It's looking like we have a deal on Gaza. I think it's a deal that gets the hostages back, it's going to be a deal that ends the war," Trump told reporters before departing the White House to attend the Ryder Cup golf tournament in New York.

He did not offer further details.

While international leaders gathered at the United Nations in New York this week, the US unveiled a 21-point Middle East peace plan aimed at ending the nearly two-year-long war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas.

The proposal was circulated Tuesday to officials from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, Indonesia, and Pakistan, according to US special envoy Steve Witkoff.

Trump, who remains Israel's staunchest ally on the global stage, said he spoke on Thursday with representatives from several Middle Eastern nations as well as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Trump Declares 100% Tariff On Pharma Imports From October 1

WASHINGTON, Sept 26: US President Donald Trump on Thursday announced tariffs of up to 100 per cent on imports of branded and patented pharmaceutical drugs, starting October 1, 2025.

India's pharmaceuticals sector, one of the most dependent domestic industries on trade with America, could be significantly impacted by the move.

"Starting October 1st, 2025, we will be imposing a 100 per cent Tariff on any branded or patented Pharmaceutical Product, unless a Company IS BUILDING their Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Plant in America," the Republican leader said on Truth Social.

Trump's posts showed that his devotion to tariffs did not end with the trade frameworks and import taxes that were launched in August, a reflection of the president's confidence that taxes will help reduce the government's budget deficit while increasing domestic manufacturing.

""IS BUILDING" will be defined as, "breaking ground" and/or "under construction." There will, therefore, be no Tariff on these Pharmaceutical Products if construction has started. Thank you for your attention to this matter," he added.

In his latest tariff blitz, Trump also slapped 50 per cent duty on imports of kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities, 30 per cent on upholstered furniture, and 25 per cent on heavy trucks.

While Trump did not provide a legal justification for the tariffs, he appeared to stretch the bounds of his role as commander-in-chief by stating that the taxes were needed “for National Security and other reasons.”

America is India's largest export market for pharmaceutical goods. In FY 24, of India's $27.9 billion worth of pharma exports, 31 per cent or $8.7 billion (Rs 77,138 crore) went to the US, according to the Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India, an industry body. Another $3.7 billion (Rs 32,505 crore) worth of pharma products were exported in just the first half of 2025.

Per reports, India supplies over 45 per cent of generic and 15 per cent of biosimilar drugs used in the US. Firms like Dr Reddy's, Aurobindo Pharma, Zydus Lifesciences, Sun Pharma and Gland Pharma reportedly earn anywhere from 30-50 per cent of their total revenues from the American market.

Although the latest American tariffs appear to mainly target branded and patented drugs -- a segment dominated by multinational giants -- uncertainty looms over whether complex generics and speciality medicines from India would also be under the scanner. Moreover, large players already have manufacturing facilities in the US.

American consumers depend on low-cost generics manufactured in India. Higher tariffs would lead to price hikes, inflation and drug shortages in the country. Meanwhile, Indian companies, operating on thin margins in the US generics space, may struggle to absorb costs if tariffs are imposed on them, and end up passing them on to US consumers or insurers.

Trump has already slapped 50 per cent tariffs on Indian imports, which also includes a 25 per cent 'penalty' for continued purchase of Russian oil.

Close to getting some kind of deal done between Israel and Hamas in Gaza: Trump

WASHINGTON, Sept 25: US President Donald Trump has said that a deal to end the nearly two-year war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza is close. Trump made the announcement during a joint briefing with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at the Oval Office on Thursday.

“We want to get Gaza over with,” Trump said.

“I think we’re close to getting some kind of deal done,” he adds.

“We want to get the hostages back, I have to get the hostages back,” the US President said, adding that there are around 20 living hostages and around “38 or so dead hostages”.

“Pretty sad, and the parents of those dead souls, those dead, mostly men, boys, many cases, they want those bodies back so badly,” he says.

Trump reiterated he believes “we’re going to be close to a deal”.

In the past few days, the Trump administration, including the President himself, the Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, and Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, has been holding extensive deliberations with various stakeholders, including heads of state from Muslim countries, to end the war in Gaza and return the hostages.

On Wednesday, both Witkoff and Rubio had expressed confidence that “some sort of breakthrough” on Gaza would be achieved in the coming days.

Witkoff said US President Donald Trump’s 21-point peace plan for the Middle East and Gaza was presented to leaders of several Muslim-majority countries on Tuesday on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.

According to a report by Politico, Trump has addressed one of the biggest concerns expressed by Arab leaders during their meeting. Trump promised Arab and Muslim leaders that he would not allow Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to annex the West Bank.

India can buy oil from any nation except Russia: Wright

NEW YORK, Sept 25: US Energy Secretary Chris Wright has urged India to reconsider its purchases of discounted Russian crude and said Washington does not intend to punish New Delhi with punitive tariffs, but aims to bring an end to Moscow's military actions in Ukraine.

He emphasised that the US sees a "bright future" with India and called for a greater alignment on the Ukraine conflict.

"There are lots of oil exporters in the world. India doesn't need to buy Russian oil. India buys Russian oil because it is cheaper. Nobody wants to buy Russian oil; they have to sell it at a discount. India has decided to make the trade-off to buy cheaper oil and look the other way, which is giving money to a guy who's murdering thousands of people every week," said Wright at the New York Foreign Press Centre.

The US official said that Washington wishes New Delhi would work with them on crude oil purchases.

"We wish India would work with us to buy (oil). You can buy oil from every nation on the earth, just not Russian oil. That's our position. America has oil to sell, so does everybody else," he said.

"We don't want to punish India. We want to end the war, and we want to grow our relations with India."

The remarks came as the Donald Trump administration in the US slapped 50 per cent tariffs on Indian imports -- among the highest globally -- 25 per cent of which are tied to New Delhi's Russian oil trade. US President Donald Trump has accused New Delhi of "fueling Russia's deadly attacks on Ukraine" through its discounted crude purchases.

Wright said he believes India shares the US goal of ending the Russia-Ukraine war and noted Washington sees New Delhi as a key trading partner.

"I am a huge fan of India. We love India. We look forward to more energy trade, more interactions back and forth with India and then India is caught up in the middle of another issue," he said.

"I believe Indians want to bring that war to an end, and we want to expand our energy cooperation with India in natural gas, coal, nuclear, clean cooking fuels, and liquid petroleum gas...We want nothing more than more trade and energy cooperation with India."

The Trump aide emphasised the priority of ending the conflict while strengthening US-India ties and said the US is looking to find a way to put 'maximum pressure' on Russia to end the war.

Relationship With Putin 'Meant Nothing': Trump On Failure To End Ukraine War

NEW YORK, Sept 24: US President Donald Trump on the issue of the Ukraine war, said that he thought it would be the easiest to solve because of his relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin, however, "that relationship didn't mean anything".

In a pull-aside with French President Emmanuel Macron during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Trump also credited the former and said that he helped him with a "couple of wars". Reasserting his claim about settling seven wars, he said the "biggest disappointment" that will happen eventually will be the Russia-Ukraine war.

"I thought that would be the easiest one because of my relationship with Putin. But unfortunately, that relationship didn't mean anything", Trump said dejectedly.

Even during his UNGA speech Trump said, "They said they were unendable, some were going for 31 years, one was 36 years. I ended 7 wars and in all cases they were raging with countless thousands of people being killed" adding that no other president or leader has "ever done anything close to that".

He then criticised the United Nations and said that it "did not even try to help" solve the wars. "It's not even coming close to living up to its potential... it's empty words, and empty words don't solve wars" Trump said.

Trump's remarks come after a month of the Alaska Summit where he met Putin to hold high stakes peace talks with respect to the conflict in Ukraine. Although the two leaders had a positive outlook, the meeting did not have a concrete outcome.

After the summit, it was settled that first Russia and Ukraine will hold bilateral talks and if need be, there would be a trilateral meeting with Trump, Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Nevertheless, the meetings have not taken place yet.

From telling Zelensky that he does not have the cards to negotiate with Russia to claiming that Ukraine can retake all the territory Russia has seized since its invasion, Trump's tone on Ukraine has shifted.

The astonishing turnaround came shortly after Trump also called for NATO countries to shoot down any Russian jets that violate their airspace.

"I think Ukraine, with the support of the European Union, is in a position to fight and WIN all of Ukraine back in its original form," Trump said on his Truth Social network after his talks with Zelensky.

Trump says he believes Ukraine can win back territory lost to Russia with NATO's help

NEW YORK, Sept 24: U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that Ukraine can win back all territory lost to Russia, a dramatic shift from the U.S. leader's call on Kyiv to make concessions.

Trump offered his position in a social media posting soon after meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.

Trump, in part, wrote, “I think Ukraine, with the support of the European Union, is in a position to fight and WIN all of Ukraine back in its original form. With time, patience, and the financial support of Europe and, in particular, NATO, the original Borders from where this War started, is very much an option.” The strengthened support from Trump, if it sticks, is a huge win for Zelenskyy, who has urged the American president to keep up the pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin to end his brutal war.

However, the post did not include language about new U.S. sanctions or tariffs targeting Russia’s energy sector, although Trump has discussed both, including with European leaders. And, neither did the post discuss fresh direct U.S. arms sales to Ukraine, instead suggesting that NATO members would continue to buy American weaponry and then transfer it to Ukraine.

Trump, going back to his 2024 campaign, insisted that he would quickly end the war. And he’s frequently suggested that U.S. interests in the outcome were limited.

“Russia has been fighting aimlessly for three and a half years a War that should have taken a Real Military Power less than a week to win,” Trump wrote. “This is not distinguishing Russia. In fact, it is very much making them look like a paper tiger.’”

In his meeting with Trump, Zelenskyy was seeking additional U.S. help in defending his country from Russia’s onslaught of missiles, drones and bombs.

The two Presidents, who have had strained ties in previous sitdowns, greeted each other warmly.

“We have great respect for the fight that Ukraine is putting up,” Trump told Zelenskyy, who replied that he had “good news” from the battlefield.

“We will speak of how to finish the war and security guarantees,” Zelenskyy said, thanking the US leader for the meeting and for his “personal efforts to stop this war.”

As the fighting rages on, Trump said the “biggest progress” toward ending the conflict “is that the Russian economy is terrible right now.” Zelenskyy said Ukraine agreed with Trump’s call for European nations to further halt imports of Russian oil and natural gas.

Trump Administration Proposes To Scrap H-1B Lottery System, Floats New Rules

WASHINGTON, Sept 23: The United States has proposed to amend the regulations of the H-1B visa programme just days after President Donald Trump signed a proclamation to curtail it.

The new proposal by the Department of Homeland Security seeks to scrap the existential lottery system and implement "a weighted selection process that would generally favour the allocation of H-1B visas to higher-skilled and higher-paid aliens, while maintaining the opportunity for employers to secure H-1B workers at all wage levels".

Last week, Trump had signed a proclamation announcing a $100,000 fee for each new application. The visa allowed for companies in the US to hire skilled foreign workers in fields such as technology and engineering through a lottery system.

"President Trump promised to put American workers first, and this common-sense action does just that by discouraging companies from spamming the system and driving down wages. It also gives certainty to American businesses who actually want to bring high-skilled workers to our great country but have been trampled on by abuses of the system", White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers clarified.

While signing the proclamation, Trump said that the "incentive is to hire American workers".

Indians make up 71 per cent of all the approved H-1B applications, according to data by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Will Scharf, the White House staff secretary had said that the H-1B non-immigrant visa program is one of the "most abused visa" systems currently in the US.

Indian IT giants such as TCS, Infosys and Wipro rely heavily on H-1B visas and the new fee could cost the companies billions. A direct outcome would be reduced hiring or shifting jobs back to India.

This comes amid a visit to the US by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal to meet Trump administration officials in New York on Monday.

Rubio hints at more tariffs on India for buying Russian oil purchases, speaks of more sanctions

WASHINGTON, Sept 23: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday said President Donald Trump is considering more sanctions on Russia, such as penal trade tariffs on India for buying oil from the country, to force an end to the Ukraine war. He prefaced that with a call for Europe, too, to impose such sanctions.

“Right now there are countries in Europe that are still buying massive amounts of oil and natural gas from Russia, which is absurd,” Rubio said in an interaction with NBC.

“We’ve already seen the measures we’ve taken with regards to India, although that’s something we hope we can fix,” he added, “And the President has the ability to do more, and he’s considering doing more because of the direction this has taken.”

Earlier, Rubio said in another interview that talks with India for a trade deal were focused on the Russian oil purchases. "We had meetings with them again yesterday, and it has to do with their purchase of Russian oil," Rubio said in the interview on ABC News, citing “a lot of progress”.

India's commerce minister Piyush Goyal is in the US to accelerate talks that resumed last week after personal interactions between Trump and PM Narendra Modi.

Trump last month imposed a 25% punitive levy on Indian imports from August 27, doubling overall tariffs to 50%, as his administration pressures New Delhi to end its oil deals with Moscow.

Rubio did not say whether the two sides discussed the Trump administration's H-1B visa $100,000 fee, which mostly impacts Indian engineers, or US demands that India open its agriculture and dairy sector for American companies which New Delhi sees as a red line.

$100,000 H-1B Visa Fee For New Applicants, Current Holders Can Re-Enter US: White House Amid Confusion

WASHINGTON, Sept 21: The White House issued a major clarification Saturday to its new H-1B visa policy that had rattled the tech industry, saying a $100,000 fee will be a "one-time" payment imposed only on new applicants.

US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, in announcing the major fee increase on Friday, said it would be paid annually, and would apply to people seeking a new visa as well as renewals.

But White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt issued a clarification on Saturday, hours before the new policy was to go into effect.

"This is NOT an annual fee. It's a one-time fee that applies... only to new visas, not renewals, and not current visa holders," she said in a social media post.

The executive order, which is likely to face legal challenges, comes into force Sunday at 12:01 am US Eastern time (0401 GMT), or 9:01 pm Saturday on the Pacific Coast.

Prior to the White House's clarification, US companies were scrambling to figure out the implications for their foreign workers, with several reportedly warning their employees not to leave the country.

Some people who were already on planes preparing to leave the country on Friday de-boarded over fears they may not be allowed to re-enter the United States, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

"Those who already hold H-1B visas and are currently outside of the country right now will NOT be charged $100,000 to re-enter," Leavitt said.

"H-1B visa holders can leave and re-enter the country to the same extent as they normally would," she added.

H-1B visas allow companies to sponsor foreign workers with specialized skills --- such as scientists, engineers, and computer programmers -- to work in the United States, initially for three years but extendable to six.

Such visas are widely used by the tech industry. Indian nationals account for nearly three-quarters of the permits allotted via lottery system each year.

The United States approved approximately 400,000 H-1B visas in 2024, two-thirds of which were renewals.

US President Donald Trump announced the change in Washington on Friday, arguing it would support American workers.

The H-1B program "has been deliberately exploited to replace, rather than supplement, American workers with lower-paid, lower-skilled labor," the executive order said.

Trump also introduced a $1 million "gold card" residency program he had previewed months earlier.

"The main thing is, we're going to have great people coming in, and they're going to be paying," Trump told reporters as he signed the orders in the Oval Office.

Lutnick, who joined Trump in the Oval Office, said multiple times that the fee would be applied annually.

"The company needs to decide... is the person valuable enough to have $100,000 a year payment to the government? Or they should head home and they should go hire an American," he told reporters.

Though he claimed that "all the big companies are on board," many businesses were left confused about the details of the H-1B order.

US bank JPMorgan confirmed that a memo had been sent to its employees with H-1B visas advising them to remain in the United States and avoid international travel until further guidance was issued.

Tech entrepreneurs -- including Trump's former ally Elon Musk -- have warned against targeting H-1B visas, saying that the United States does not have enough homegrown talent to fill important tech sector job vacancies.

India's foreign ministry said the mobility of skilled talent had contributed to "innovation" and "wealth creation" in both countries and that it would assess the changes.

It said in a statement the new measure would likely have "humanitarian consequences by way of the disruption caused for families," which it hoped would be addressed by US authorities.

Trump warns Putin of ‘big trouble’ after Russian jets enter Estonian airspace; says ‘I don’t love it’

WASHINGTON, Sept 20: US President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying there “could be big trouble” after three Russian fighter jets illegally entered Estonian airspace in what officials described as a “reckless” and “brazen” act of intimidation.

Speaking to reporters on Friday, Trump said he would soon be briefed by aides on the reported incursion. “I don’t love it,” he remarked. “I don’t like when that happens. It could be big trouble, but I’ll let you know later.”

The development marks one of the most serious cross-border incidents involving a NATO member state since the war in Ukraine began with Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.

According to Estonia’s Foreign Ministry, three Russian fighter aircraft entered the country’s airspace without permission on Friday, remaining there for 12 minutes before departing.

Estonia swiftly summoned a Russian diplomat to lodge a formal protest, condemning the breach as a violation of its sovereignty.

Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna labelled the incident “unprecedentedly brazen”, revealing that while there had been four airspace violations this year, the scale and nature of this latest intrusion was far more serious.

“Today’s incursion, involving three fighter aircraft entering our airspace, is unprecedentedly brazen,” Tsahkna stated.

The incident came just a week after NATO forces downed Russian drones over Poland, raising concerns that the conflict in Ukraine could spill over into neighbouring countries.

Estonian Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur announced that the government had triggered consultations under Article 4 of the NATO treaty, a clause that allows member states to seek collective discussions when they feel their security is threatened.

Taking to social media platform X, Pevkur wrote that Estonia’s airspace had been “violated yet again”, stressing the need for a united response from allies.

US revokes sanctions waiver linked to Iran's Chabahar Port

WASHINGTON, Sept 19: The US has decided to revoke the sanctions exception linked to Iran's Chabahar Port issued in 2018. With this, individuals linked to operations at the port would be exposed to sanctions under the Iran Freedom and Counter-Proliferation Act (IFCA), the US Department of State said in a release.

The revocation of the sanctions waiver will be effective from September 29.

The move stands to impact India's plans to develop the port. An Indian-state run company is engaged in the development of a terminal at the Chabahar port, and India eyes the port as an important project in context of regional trade and connectivity initiatives.

The US administration said that the move to revoke sanctions exception was in line with President Donald Trump's “maximum pressure policy” against the Iranian regime. “Once the revocation is effective, persons who operate the Chabahar Port or engage in other activities described in IFCA may expose themselves to sanctions under IFCA,” the US State Department's release read.

In May this year, India and Iran signed a 10-year agreement linked to the Chabahar Port operations as part of which New Delhi offered a credit window worth $250 million for infrastructure development at the port in the Gulf of Oman.

It was earlier reported that the Indian company operating on the Chabahar Port was mulling expanding its capacity and connecting the port to the Iranian railway network.

Reports said the port’s capacity was being increased to 500,000 TEUs, along with the construction of 700 km of railway tracks connecting Chabahar to Zahedan. Both projects were expected to be completed by mid-2026, according to people familiar with the matter.

The Chabahar Port is an ambitious project helmed by India and Iran. The port also emerged as a vital gateway for India’s regional outreach and humanitarian efforts in the past. In 2023, it was used to send 20,000 tonnes of wheat aid to Afghanistan. Before that in 2021, the port enabled the shipment of environmentally friendly pesticides to Iran.

India, US Hold Trade Talks, Both Sides Describe Them As 'Positive'

NEW DELHI, Sept 16: Talks between the US and India on a bilateral trade agreement, the first since 50% tariffs were imposed by Donald Trump, have been described by both sides as "positive".

"Assistant US Trade Representative Brendan Lynch had a positive meeting in Delhi with his counterpart Ministry of Commerce and Industry Special Secretary Rajesh Agrawal on September 16 to discuss next steps in bilateral trade negotiations," the US Embassy spokesperson said after the talks on Tuesday.

A statement by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry soon after expressed a similar sentiment and said both countries have decided to ramp up efforts to arrive at a trade deal

"Acknowledging the enduring importance of bilateral trade between India and the US, the discussions were positive and forward-looking, covering various aspects of the trade deal. It was decided to intensify efforts to achieve early conclusion of a mutually beneficial Trade Agreement," the ministry said.

Lynch and his team had reached India on Monday night for the talks, which were described by sources in the Indian government not as the sixth round of discussions between the countries on a trade deal, but a "precursor" to them.

Ties between the US and India had witnessed a noticeable slide after a 25% penalty for New Delhi's purchase of Russian oil - in addition to 25% tariffs - was announced on July 30 and took effect on August 27.

Trump calls up Modi for birthday wishes, hours after ‘positive’ trade talks resume

WASHINGTON, Sept 16: In yet another moment of bonhomie between the two leaders, Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a call from US President Donald Trump for wishes on his birthday eve as he turns 75 on September 17.

In a post on X, Modi thanked Trump and referred to the trade deal talks that resumed just hours earlier: “Like you, I am also fully committed to taking the India-US Comprehensive and Global Partnership to new heights.”

He added, "We support your initiatives towards a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict.”

Trump later made a similar post on Truth Social: “Just had a wonderful phone call with my friend, Prime Minister Narendra Modi. I wished him a very Happy Birthday! He is doing a tremendous job. Narendra: Thank you for your support on ending the War between Russia and Ukraine!”

The US has been chiding India — though lately it's focused on Europe — to stop buying Russian oil to force it to stop the Ukraine war. The oil and the war have been cited as a reason behind the massive 50% US import tariffs imposed by Trump on Indian goods and services.

Trump aide Navarro again targets India over Russian oil even as talks resume

WASHINGTON, Sept 15: Ahead of American chief negotiator Brendan Lynch's visit to India, White House trade advisor Peter Navarro on Monday again targeted India over its trade policies.

"Indian refiners were in bed with Russian refiners immediately after the invasion... It's crazy stuff, because they make money off us via unfair trade and many workers get screwed. They use that money to buy Russian oil, and Russians use that to buy weapons," Navarro told CNBC International.

"India is coming to the table. On the trade side, they have very high tariffs," he added.

This comes just as Brendan Lynch, who is the Assistant US Trade Representative for South and Central Asia, is arriving in India on Monday night. He will hold talks with India's chief negotiator, Rajesh Agrawal.

Agrawal said that both sides intend to "fast-track" the talks, and confirmed Lynch's one-day visit, but gave no details.

A visit by the US team was originally scheduled between August 25 and 29, but it was called off amid rising tensions over massive tariffs imposed by the US on Indian products as “penalty” for the country's purchase of Russian oil “funding the Ukraine war”.

Of the tariffs, 25 per cent came into effect in the first week of August as part of a global trade rest by the US; and the additional 25 per cent over the Russian oil kicked in on August 27.

First Russian Oil, Now American Corn: How US Is Using Tariffs Against India

WASHINGTON, Sept 15: US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has warned that New Delhi could lose its access to the American market if it refuses to purchase US-grown corn.

Speaking to Axios in an interview, Lutnick threatened that New Delhi could face a "tough time" if it doesn't bring down its tariffs, even as President Donald Trump himself is dialling down the heat on India.

He claimed the India-US relationship is one-way. "They sell to us and take advantage of us. They block us from their economy, and they sell to us while we are wide open for them to come in (and) take advantage," Lutnick said.

"India brags that they have 1.4 billion people. Why won't 1.4 billion people buy one bushel of US corn? Doesn't that rub you the wrong way that they sell everything to us, and they won't buy our corn? They put tariffs on everything."

Bushel is a measure of capacity equivalent to 35.2 litres and is used for dry goods.

Lutnick claimed that Donald Trump has asked India to "bring down your tariffs, treat us the way we treat you." He further said the Trump administration has "to right years of wrong, so we want a tariff going the other way until we fix this".

"That's the president's model, and you either accept it or you're going to have a tough time doing business with the world's greatest consumer," he said.

The corn grown in the US is mostly genetically modified and India does not use GM corn. Neither import nor local cultivation by farmers is allowed to stop the genetically modified varieties from entering the food chain even through soil or consumption by animals.

This is also why a NITI Aayog proposal to grown GM corn for ethanol was also shelved.

Because the US Corn varieties are genetically modified, it is also among the world's cheapest. It is used not just for human consumption but also directly as animal fodder.

Trump Threatens 50-100% Tariffs On China, Demands NATO Stop Buying Russia Oil

WASHINGTON, Sept 13: US President Donald Trump on Saturday said that the Russia-Ukraine war would end if NATO countries stopped buying Russian oil. He also threatened to impose 50-100 per cent tariffs on China for its purchase of petroleum from Russia.

Taking to Truth Social, Trump wrote that the purchase of Russian oil by members of NATO is "shocking". Addressing NATO, he said, "It greatly weakens your negotiating position, and bargaining power, over Russia". He also accused NATO and said that their commitment to win the war "has been far less than 100%".

China is the largest buyer of Russian energy, followed by India. In the third place stands Turkey who is a NATO member. Hungary and Slovakia are other members of the 32-state alliance that also purchase oil from Russia.

This comes amid the backdrop of an escalation as drones entered NATO ally Poland's airspace after being launched from Russia. Poland shot down the drones. The Congress has also been pushing Trump for a bill to strengthen sanctions.

Trump said that a NATO ban on Russian oil plus tariffs on China would "also be of great help in ENDING this deadly, but RIDICULOUS, WAR."

He noted that China has "strong control, and even grip, over Russia" and said that the tariffs he is imposing "will break that grip".

Blaming the onus of the war on Former US President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, he said, "This is not TRUMP'S WAR (it would never have started if I was President!), it is Biden's and Zelenskyy's WAR." He did not name Russian President Vladimir Putin in the list.

Urging NATO to do "as I say", he wrote, "the WAR will end quickly, and all of those lives will be saved! If not, you are just wasting my time, and the time, energy, and money of the United States."

Last month, the Trump administration levied 25 per cent reciprocal tariffs on India, with another 25 per cent levy stacked on top of it for New Delhi's purchase of oil and weapons from Moscow.

'Not An Easy Thing To Do, It's Big Deal': Trump On 50% India Tariffs

WASHINGTON, Sept 12: US president Donald Trump Friday admitted that the 50% tariff on India for purchase of Russian oil soured the relations between the two countries.

"Look, India was their (Russia's) biggest customer. I put a 50% tariff on India because they're buying oil from Russia. That's not an easy thing to do," Trump told Fox News in an interview.

India has seen outrage and a spike in anti-US sentiment after Trump imposed tariffs of up to 50 per cent on some of its exports over purchases of oil from Russia, under Western sanctions for its invasion of Ukraine.

"That's a big deal. And it causes a rift with India," Trump told the "Fox & Friends" program.

US-India ties have been strained by Trump's trade war, with talks on lower tariff rates collapsing after India, the world's fifth-largest economy, resisted opening its vast agricultural and dairy sectors. Bilateral trade between the two countries is worth more than $190 billion each year.

Trump first imposed additional tariffs of 25% on imports from India, then said they would double to 50% from August 27 as punishment for New Delhi's increased purchases of Russian oil, as Washington works to end the war in Ukraine.

The US president said on Tuesday his administration is continuing negotiations to address trade barriers with India and that he would talk to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a sign of a reset after weeks of diplomatic friction.

Sergio Gor, nominated by Trump to be ambassador to India, said he expected progress when India's commerce minister visits Washington next week.

Describing the tariffs as a "little hiccup," Gor -- also named to a broad position of Trump's special envoy for South Asia -- said of concern over India's Russia ties, "We hold our friends to different standards."

"I will make it a top priority to ensure that they're pulled in our direction, not away from us," Gor said of India.

Gor noted that Trump, not shy about airing grievances with other leaders, has not personally attacked Modi.

'Must stop buying Russian oil': Trump's envoy pick Sergio Gor on India tariff deal

WASHINGTON, Sept 11: United States President Donald Trump's pick for the next American ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, said on Thursday that it is Trump administration's priority to get India to stop buying Russian oil. He also, however, said that India and the US are not that “far apart” on a tariff deal.

“We're not that far apart on a deal already on these tariffs… Getting India to stop buying Russian oil is a top priority for this administration,” he said at his Senate confirmation hearing.

"Part of that will include hopeful, a hopeful deal. We are not that far apart right now on a deal. In fact, they're negotiating the nitty-gritty of a deal,” he said.

“We expect more from India than we do sometimes from other nations. I do think it will get resolved over the next few weeks,” said Gor.

Gor also called India a “strategic partner” and said that under President Donald Trump's “strong leadership, I'm committed to advancing America's interest in this important partnership.”

India's “geographic position, economic growth and military capabilities make it a cornerstone for regional stability and a critical part of promoting prosperity and advancing the security interests that our nations share," he said.

In a bid to convince the US senate for confirming his appointment as the next US ambassador to India, Gor told the senate foreign relations committee that, “If confirmed as ambassador, I will work to deliver on the presidential agenda and advance US interests by increasing our defence cooperation, ensuring fair and beneficial trade, deepening energy security and furthering technology.”

If confirmed, Gor, 38, would the youngest American ambassador to India.

Gor highlighted the friendship shared by President Trump and PM Modi despite the tensions over tariffs between the two nations and said that both the leaders have an “incredible relationship”

“In fact, if you have noticed, when he has gone after other nations, he tends to go after their leaders for putting us in that position, and for the US imposing those tariffs. When the President has been critical of India, he has gone out of his way to compliment Modi. They have an incredible relationship,” he said.

Currently, Gor is serving as the director of the White House Presidential Personnel Office. He was picked by President Donald Trump to become the next US ambassador to India in August. However, he is yet to be confirmed by the US senate.

While introducing Gor to the committee, US secretary of state Marco Rubio said that he has known Gor for a long time while also adding that the US has “one of the top relationships” in the world with India.

Rubio, as he introduced Sergio Gor, said “who is the nominee to India, which is, I would say, one of the top relationships the US has in the world today, in terms of the future, what the world is going to look like.”

He also said that in the 21st Century, the “story is going to be written in the Indo-Pacific. In fact, it's so important that we've actually changed the name of the combatant command of the Indo-Pacific. India is at the core of that."

“And we are in a period of extraordinary transition in that relationship with India. We've got some really important issues coming up that we need to work with them on and work through on that implicate what's happening from Ukraine, but also implicate what's happening in the region."

More tariffs on India despite Trump-Modi thaw? US secy drops 'Russia sanctions' bomb

WASHINGTON, Sept 7: US treasury secretary Scott Bessent thinks more sanctions on Russia and the countries that buy oil from it — which prominently includes India — can bring about an economic “collapse”. Only such a collapse will bring Russia's Vladimir Putin back to the table and have peace talks with Ukraine, Bessent argued in an interview with NBC on Sunday.

In his reference to “countries that buy Russian oil”, Bessent did not name any as such, but India remains the biggest target of US tariffs over this issue, despite a recent thaw which saw President Donald Trump and PM Narendra Modi underlining their mutual appreciation and friendship through the press and social media.

“We are in a race now between how long can the Ukrainian military hold up versus how long can the Russian economy hold up? And if the US and the EU can come in with more sanctions, more secondary tariffs on the countries that buy Russian oil, the Russian economy will be in full collapse and that will bring President Putin to the table,” he said.

“We (the US) are prepared to increase pressure on Russia, but we need our partners in Europe to follow,” Bessent said in the interview.

Russia is under crippling sanctions from both the US and Europe since the start of the war, but has found customers for Russian oil and gas in India, China and elsewhere.

JD Vance Dismisses Critics After 11 Killed In US Strike

WASHINGTON, Sept 7: US Vice President JD Vance has defended the United States' deadly airstrike on an alleged Venezuelan drug-smuggling boat in the Caribbean, saying he "doesn't give a sh*t" if critics call it a war crime.

"Killing cartel members who poison our fellow citizens is the highest and best use of our military," JD Vance wrote on X on Saturday, a day after the administration confirmed that an airstrike had destroyed a quad-motor watercraft off Venezuela, killing 11 people.

The Donald Trump administration said the vessel was part of the Tren de Aragua gang, which the president recently designated a terrorist organisation. Trump claimed its members were working with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to ship drugs into the US.

Political commentator Brian Krassenstein argued on X that "killing the citizens of another nation who are civilians without any due process is called a war crime." Vance replied, "I don't give a sh*t what you call it."

International law experts warn the strike may breach the UN Charter, which permits force only in self-defence or with Security Council approval. Critics note there is no evidence the boat posed an imminent threat.

White House deputy press secretary Anna Kelly insisted the strike was "conducted against the operations of a designated terrorist organisation and was taken in defence of vital US national interests," calling it "fully consistent" with international law.

"Please let this serve as notice to anybody even thinking about bringing drugs into the United States of America. BEWARE!" Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth both said the strike would not be a one-off. "We've got assets in the air, assets in the water, assets on ships, because this is a deadly serious mission for us, and it won't stop with just this strike," Pete Hegseth told Fox News. "Anyone else trafficking in those waters who we know is a designated narco terrorist will face the same fate."

'Fully Reciprocate His Sentiments': Modi On Trump's 'Will Always Be Friends' Remark

NEW DELHI, Sept 6: Amid the strained India-US ties over tariffs, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday responded to US President Donald Trump's "always be friends" remark, saying he "fully reciprocates his sentiments". According to the PM, India and the US have a "very positive" global strategic partnership.

"Deeply appreciate and fully reciprocate President Trump's sentiments and positive assessment of our ties. India and the US have a very positive and forward-looking Comprehensive and Global Strategic Partnership," Modi wrote on X.

Trump, on Friday, called India-US ties a "very special relationship" and affirmed that he and Modi would "always be friends". However, he expressed displeasure over what Modi is "doing" at the moment - referring to India's Russian oil imports.

"I'll always be friends with Modi. He's a great Prime Minister. I'll always be friends, but I just don't like what he is doing at this particular moment. But India and the United States have a very special relationship. There is nothing to worry about. We just have moments on occasion," Trump said.

The US President also said that trade talks with India are "going well".

India and US ties had strained in recent weeks after the Trump administration imposed secondary tariffs on India for buying Russian oil. The US tariffs on Indian exports now stand above 50 per cent - the highest tariff Trump has imposed as per his fresh list, apart from Brazil. India had condemned the move, calling it "unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable".

‘We’ve lost India and Russia to darkest China’: Trump

WASHINGTON, Sept 5: US President Donald Trump on Friday said India and Russia appear to have been "lost" to China, following the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting in China's Tianjin this week.

Trump's latest social media post came days after the powerful display of bonhomie between Modi, Xi Jinping and Putin during SCO summit caught global attention, especially in the West.

Sharing the photo of Modi-Xi-Putin trio, Trump wrote: “Looks like we’ve lost India and Russia to deepest, darkest, China. May they have a long and prosperous future together!”

Trump's remark comes days after the SCO meet, which is seen as a clear message of defiance against Trump's harsh tariffs, and at a time when the ties between New Delhi and Washington are arguably at the worst phase in the last two decades.

The relations between India and the US are on a downturn after Trump doubled tariffs on Indian goods to 50 per cent, which is among the highest on any other country.

India going to be at the table in a month or two 'saying sorry': US Commerce Secretary on trade deal

WASHINGTON, Sept 5: US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on Friday claimed India will engage in negotiations with President Donald Trump within the next couple of months, describing New Delhi as the “vowel” between Russia and China in the BRICS grouping.

“So, I think yes, in a month or two months, I think India is going to be at the table, and they're going to say they're sorry, and they're going to try to make a deal with Donald Trump,” Lutnick told Bloomberg in an interview.

“And it will be on Donald Trump's desk how he wants to deal with (Narendra) Modi, and we leave that to him. That's why he's the President,” he added.

Lutnick’s comments came hours after the Republican President wrote on Truth Social, “Looks like we’ve lost India and Russia to deepest, darkest, China. May they have a long and prosperous future together!” Trump also shared an old photo of Prime Minister Modi with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

He issued warning on BRICS alignment, saying, India must choose between supporting the United States and aligning with Russia and China. “They're the vowel between Russia and China (in BRICS). If that's who you want to be, go be it."

The Trump administration official further said, “Either support the dollar, support the United States of America, support your biggest client, who is the American consumer, or I guess you're going to pay a 50% tariff. And let's see how long this lasts.”

When the moderator questioned him over the possibility on India-US talks, Lutnick responded, “We're always willing to talk.” He added that countries such as India and China ultimately depend on the American market.

“We are the consumer of the world. People have to remember, it's our $30 trillion economy that is the consumer of the world. So eventually they all have to come back to the customer, because we all know eventually the customer is always right,” he added.

Trump Links India Tariffs To Ending Ukraine War In Supreme Court Plea

WASHINGTON, Sept 4: US President Donald Trump's administration has moved the Supreme Court to challenge a federal appeals court ruling that decreed most of his sweeping tariffs illegal. In the court papers, the Trump administration has argued that the tariffs are "a crucial aspect of our push for peace" in Ukraine.

"The President recently authorised IEEPA tariffs against India for purchasing Russian energy products, to deal with a preexisting national emergency regarding Russia's war in Ukraine, as a crucial aspect of his push for peace in that war-torn country," the administration wrote.

This comes against the backdrop of intensifying trade and geopolitical tensions. On August 27, US President Donald Trump's administration doubled tariffs on India to 50 percent - half aimed at penalising New Delhi for ramping up Russian oil imports after Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, and the other half under Trump's signature "America First" push to cut trade deficits.

The filing stated that with tariffs, the US is a "rich nation" and without, it is a "poor nation".

"According to the president, one year ago, the United States was a dead country, and now, because of the trillions of dollars being paid by countries that have so badly abused us, America is a strong, financially viable, and respected country again," the filing said.

Last week, a US appeals court ruled that many of Trump's tariffs, which have upended global trade, were illegal, but had allowed the tariffs to remain in place to give the administration time till mid-October to take it up to the Supreme Court.

The 7-4 ruling by the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit affirmed a lower court's finding that Trump had exceeded his authority in tapping emergency economic powers to impose wide-ranging duties.

Trump had slammed the ruling and posted on Truth Social that the appeals court "incorrectly said that our Tariffs should be removed, but they know the United States of America will win in the end".

He also added that he would fight back "with the help" of the Supreme Court.

In January, Trump had used the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to slap "reciprocal tariffs" on nations that traded with the US. However, the ruling stated that under the statute the president can take decisions in response to a declared national emergency, but none of these actions involve the power to impose tariffs, duties or taxes.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, had remarked that suspending the effectiveness of tariffs "would lead to dangerous diplomatic embarrassment."

‘India kills us with tariffs’: Trump defends 50% levy, again claims New Delhi offered ‘no tariffs’

WASHINGTON, Sept 3: US President Donald Trump said that “India kills the US with tariffs” and repeated his claim that New Delhi had offered Washington “no tariffs,” amid fraying relations between the two countries.

“They have tariffs against us. China, which kills us with tariffs. India kills us with tariffs. Brazil kills us” with tariffs, Trump said in an interview with The Scott Jennings Radio Show on Tuesday.

Trump underscored that his decision to levy tariffs had forced countries such as India to make concessions.

“I understood tariffs better than any human being in the world. And now with my tariffs, they were all dropping them. India was the most highly tariffed nation… And you know what, they’ve offered me no tariffs in India anymore. No tariffs,” Trump said.

“If I didn’t have tariffs, they would never make that offer. They would never make that offer. So you have to have tariffs. We’re going to be economically strong,” he added.

Trump’s defence of his administration’s tariff action comes in the backdrop of a US federal appeals court ruling most of the levies ‘illegal’. Trump said that the court case is sponsored by other nations because they’re taking advantage of us, and added that “…they’re not going to take advantage anymore”.

While responding to a reporter later in the day, who asked whether the US President is interested in taking away some of the tariffs imposed on India, Trump said the “United States gets along with India very well but for many years it was a one-sided relationship…India was charging us tremendous tariffs, the highest in the world.”

Citing an example of Harley Davidson, Trump said the US motorcycle company wasn’t able to sell in India due to a 200% tariff on a motorcycle. The US president added, “So what happens? Harley Davidson went to India and built a motorcycle plant. Now they don’t have to pay tariffs.”

Trump said India was doing business with the United States “because we weren’t charging them, foolishly, we weren’t charging them,” adding that India was then pouring its products in America.

“They’d send it in, pour it into our country. Therefore it wouldn’t be made here, which is a negative, but we would not send in anything because they were charging us 100% tariffs,” Trump said.

The US President had Monday claimed that India “offered” to cut its tariffs to nothing, “but it’s getting late” as New Delhi purchases most of its oil and military equipment from Russia and very little from America.

In a post shared by US Vice President JD Vance on social media, Trump had said: “It has been a totally one sided disaster! Also, India buys most of its oil and military products from Russia, very little from the US. They have now offered to cut their Tariffs to nothing, but it’s getting late. They should have done so years ago. Just some simple facts for people to ponder!!!”

Ties With India 'One-Sided Disaster': Trump

WASHINGTON, Sept 1: US President Donald Trump has once again blamed his country's a "one-sided relationship" with India and its continued purchase of Russian oil and military equipment for the high import duties.

And as Indian and American trade officials scramble to resolve the tariff problem, he also served up a 'warning', declaring Delhi had offered to cut import duties - there, however, is no talk of any such move by the Indian government - but that concessions might be 'too late'.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump complained that 'few people understand' India-US trade as he does, and said, "... they do a tremendous amount of business with us... they sell us massive amounts of goods but we sell them very little. Until now, a totally one-sided relationship."

He also doubled down on criticism of India as a 'tariff abuser', a claim he made last year while campaigning, and said "our business are unable to sell to India". The American President has been particularly put off by India refusing to open price-sensitive agriculture and dairy markets.

"Also, India buys most of its oil and military products from Russia... very little from the US. They have now offered to cut their tariffs to nothing... but it's getting late. They should have done so years ago. Just some simple facts for people to ponder!" he declared ominously.