U.S. President Donald Trump has imposed a 25% import tariff on all Indian goods, part of a broader executive order that raised duties on 69 trading partners. The move, which took effect on 1 Aug., could hit almost $40 billion in annual Indian exports and marks the steepest U.S. levy on any major Asian economy. Indian businesses and policymakers warn the surcharge threatens jobs in labour-intensive sectors such as textiles and undermines a relationship Washington has long portrayed as strategic. The United States currently runs a goods-trade deficit of roughly $46 billion with India. New Delhi confirmed it is in talks with Washington to avert further damage. A U.S. delegation is expected to visit later this month, but India has signalled it will not open its protected agriculture and dairy markets as the price for relief. Foreign-ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal said policy decisions would continue to be guided by national interests. Adding to strains, Secretary of State Marco Rubio described India’s ongoing purchases of discounted Russian crude as “a point of irritation,” echoing Trump’s public frustration that the flows help finance Moscow’s war in Ukraine. Indian officials counter that buying decisions are driven by price, crude quality and energy security considerations.