Trade War Heats Up: Trump Hints at More ‘Secondary Sanctions’ Against India, Vows to Target China Next

In a White House Press Briefing, the President Defends Singling Out India for New Tariffs, Warning That This Is Just the Beginning of the Economic Fallout.

Washington, DC – August 7, 2025: The trade war between the United States and India has taken a more aggressive turn, with President Donald Trump hinting that more “secondary sanctions” could be imposed on India. During a press briefing at the White House, Trump was asked why India was being singled out for a new 25% tariff on its goods while other countries, like China, were also buying Russian oil. His response was a clear threat of further action.

“It’s just been eight hours. Let’s see what occurs next. You’re going to see a lot more… “You’re going to see so many secondary sanctions,” Trump warned reporters. This made it clear that the US is not done punishing India for its energy policies.

The President’s statements came just a few hours after he signed an Executive Order that put a new 25% tax on goods coming from India. This directive says that India’s purchases of Russian oil are a “unusual and extraordinary threat” to the United States because of national security and foreign policy issues. In 21 days, this new tax will go into force and raise the overall tax on Indian items to an incredible 50%.

When asked if he had comparable ambitions for China, Trump gave an equally scary answer. “Could happen. It depends on how we do. He said, “Could happen,” which suggests that the other big consumer of Russian crude could also face a similar economic punishment.

India Speaks Out Against Unfairness and Promises to Protect Its Interests
After the announcement, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) put out a strong statement saying that the US’s move was “unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable.” The MEA said again that India’s oil imports are based on market considerations and are important for the energy security of its 1.4 billion people. The statement went on to say that other countries are doing the same thing for their own benefit, which makes the decision to single out India “unfortunate.”

The MEA ended with a bold statement that New Delhi would do “everything necessary to protect its national interests.” This means that a full-blown trade war between the two countries is not only feasible, but it is also a very serious possibility.