In his second term, Trump has sharply escalated protectionism, imposing sweeping tariffs on partners and rivals alike. India has been hit hardest by the latest tariff policies, with Washington raising duties on most Indian exports to 50%, up from 25%, as punishment for New Delhi’s purchase of Russian oil. In response, PM Modi’s government has resisted Washington’s pressure, continued to source discounted Russian oil, and publicly insisted that India will not “bow down” in the face of external pressures.
This stance is in stark contrast to America’s traditional allies, such as the EU, Japan, and South Korea, who have sought to placate Trump by accepting baseline tariffs, pledging massive new investments in the US, or expanding imports of American energy and farm goods, in order to avoid trade wars and secure continued US backing against Russia. This raises an important question: what explains India’s unwillingness to buckle under American pressure?