Trump Slaps Tariffs on India, Cuts Rate for Pakistan After ‘Unclear’ Oil Deal

New Delhi : A day after hailing a “landmark energy partnership” with Pakistan, U.S. President Donald Trump announced sweeping new tariffs Friday, including a 25% levy on Indian goods and a reduced 19% rate for Pakistani exports.

The tariffs, part of Trump’s expansive “Liberation Day” economic agenda, will take effect August 7. While Pakistan was previously hit with a 29% duty, the new rate reflects a last-minute trade agreement between Islamabad and Washington.

As part of the deal, Pakistan will begin importing US crude oil, a dramatic pivot from its traditional reliance on Middle Eastern energy. Trump announced the preliminary agreement earlier this week, referring vaguely to Pakistan’s “massive oil reserves,” though specifics remain unclear.

India, by contrast, was among several countries facing harsher tariff hikes. The 25% duty is seen as part of a broader US trade recalibration, which also includes levies of 30–41% on goods from countries like Myanmar, Syria, and Iraq.

The developments underscore a shifting South Asian dynamic, with Pakistan gaining temporary economic favor despite underlying volatility. For India, the tariff blow adds pressure to an already complex relationship with Washington.

Trump’s new tariffs span dozens of nations, including South Africa (30%), Vietnam (20%), and Canada (35%), signaling an aggressive expansion of his protectionist trade strategy ahead of the 2026 US elections.