After U.S. President Donald Trump imposed a 25% tariff on Indian imports - effective August 1st - combined with penalties over India’s energy and defense ties with Russia, officials from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) described the move as “unfortunate” while urging calm.

BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal emphasized that an official reaction from the Government of India would follow in due course and dismissed Trump’s tariff pronouncements as unilateral, noting the former president’s track record of reversing positions (“U-turns”). MP Hemang Joshi echoed that caution, saying, “Until we get an official word from the Government of India, we should wait,” highlighting the unpredictability of Trump’s statements.

Pratap Sarangi, another BJP MP, asserted belief in Prime Minister Modi’s leadership to counter Washington’s strategy and pledged to formulate a strong counter‐strategy if required.

As the administration reviews implications of the tariff and the accompanying penalties, India’s Commerce Ministers and trade negotiators remain engaged in bilateral discussions to safeguard national interests and seek a balanced outcome