U.S. President Donald Trump has imposed an extra 25% tariff on imports from India, lifting the total levy to 50% and making Indian goods some of the most heavily taxed in the American market. The White House framed the measure as punishment for New Delhi’s refusal to curb purchases of discounted Russian crude and to open its agricultural market. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi used his Independence Day address at the Red Fort to reject Washington’s pressure, declaring that India “won’t flinch” and urging citizens to back home-grown industry. Modi has since indicated he will seek deeper economic cooperation through BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, whose annual summit convenes this weekend in Tianjin. The tariff escalation is straining a strategic partnership Washington has cultivated to balance China’s influence. Nikkei Asia warns the Trump-Modi rift could undermine the Quad and “threaten global stability,” while former U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley has urged the administration to treat India as a key ally rather than an adversary. With trade talks suspended and the higher duties set to bite this week, Indian exporters in sectors ranging from textiles to pharmaceuticals are bracing for order cancellations and a possible shift of supply chains to lower-tariff venues. Analysts note the 50% wall matches the intensity of the 145% tariff the United States slapped on Chinese goods earlier this year, underscoring the breadth of Trump’s protectionist turn.