President Donald Trump signed an executive order Friday ending a 25% tariff on Indian imports, a move that directly ties U.S. trade policy to India’s decision to halt Russian oil purchases and expand defense cooperation with Washington.
The February 6 order removes tariffs Trump imposed in August 2025 under Executive Order 14329 after concluding that India was directly or indirectly importing Russian oil during the national emergency tied to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
In the order, Trump cited new commitments from India, including an agreement to stop importing Russian oil, increase purchases of U.S. energy products, and enter a long-term framework with the United States to expand defense cooperation.
“I have determined that India has taken significant steps to address the national emergency described in Executive Order 14066 and to align sufficiently with the United States on national security, foreign policy, and economic matters,” Trump wrote.
The tariff action coincided with a U.S.–India joint statement announcing a framework for an Interim Agreement on reciprocal trade, reaffirming negotiations toward a broader Bilateral Trade Agreement launched by Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in February 2025.
According to the joint statement, India agreed to eliminate or reduce tariffs on a wide range of U.S. industrial, food, and agricultural products, while the United States committed to reciprocal tariff adjustments and the potential removal of duties on certain Indian goods, including pharmaceuticals, gems, aircraft parts, and manufactured products, subject to the successful conclusion of the interim agreement.
Under the order, products of India imported into the United States are no longer subject to the additional 25% duty. The tariff change applies to goods “entered for consumption, or withdrawn from the warehouse for consumption,” on or after 12:01 a.m. Eastern Standard Time, consistent with U.S. customs procedures. The order directs U.S. Customs and Border Protection to process refunds of duties already collected in accordance with applicable law.
The order directs federal agencies to monitor India’s energy imports and authorizes recommendations to reimpose the tariff if India resumes purchasing Russian oil.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, Trump has repeatedly used tariffs as a leverage tool against BRICS-aligned nations, including India, when U.S. economic, currency, or national security interests are implicated. The President has framed tariffs as both punitive measures and tools to secure policy concessions and geopolitical alignment.
The order authorizes the Departments of State, Treasury, Commerce, and Homeland Security, along with the U.S. Trade Representative and national security officials, to implement and enforce the tariff changes. The Commerce Department is tasked with monitoring India’s compliance and reporting any violations.
The White House said the executive order and interim trade framework form part of a broader strategy to weaken Russian energy revenues while strengthening U.S. trade, security, and supply chain partnerships with aligned countries.