The Trump administration has raised duties on a wide range of Indian imports to 50%, doubling the levy first announced earlier this month. Washington links the measure to New Delhi’s continued purchases of discounted Russian crude, arguing that the trade penalty will choke Moscow’s oil revenues and hasten an end to the Ukraine war. Vice President JD Vance defended the hike as “aggressive economic leverage,” insisting the United States still has “a lot of cards left to play” against Russia. He said secondary tariffs on India would make it harder for the Kremlin to fund its military campaign while leaving the door open for negotiations if the bombing stops. India has rejected the pressure. Speaking at the World Leaders Forum, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said energy procurement is driven by national interest and advised critics simply not to buy Indian refined products. The Indian embassy in Washington has hired Mercury Public Affairs—its second lobbying firm in a week—to try to head off the duties, which threaten sectors from textiles to pharmaceuticals. Fitch Ratings warned the surcharge could ripple through India’s oil and drug supply chains, while U.S. food groups cautioned that higher tariffs on seafood, fruit and vegetables may lift consumer prices at home. Analysts say the dispute is straining ties within the Quad security grouping and offering Beijing an opening to deepen economic links with New Delhi. Chinese officials have publicly welcomed Indian goods even as Washington and New Delhi spar, underscoring the broader strategic stakes of the trans-Pacific tariff fight.