Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India will “never compromise” on the interests of its farmers, fishermen and dairy producers even if it means paying “a heavy price,” marking his first public reaction to a steep escalation in U.S. trade penalties. U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday added a 25-percentage-point duty on Indian exports, lifting the overall levy to 50%, one of the highest imposed on any American trading partner. The White House order, set to take effect on Aug. 28, cites New Delhi’s continued purchases of Russian oil as the trigger. Bilateral trade negotiations collapsed last month after five rounds of talks stalled over U.S. demands for wider access to India’s agriculture and dairy markets. Speaking at the MS Swaminathan Centenary International Conference in New Delhi, Modi stressed that “farmers’ welfare is supreme,” underscoring his readiness to bear personal and political costs to shield the sector. A senior official at India’s foreign ministry called Washington’s move “extremely unfortunate” and said the tariff increase “lacks logic.” The tariff dispute risks deepening strains between the two countries and could prompt New Delhi to explore closer economic cooperation with other partners. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said he will raise the issue with fellow BRICS leaders, while Indian officials indicated they would pursue all steps necessary to protect national interests.