US-India tariff dispute threatens alliance against China

New Delhi’s weapons procurement freeze signals deeper rift as tariffs reach 50%, undermining shared containment strategy.

The escalating trade dispute between Washington and New Delhi is fracturing one of America’s most crucial strategic partnerships, with India suspending planned weapons purchases and canceling high-level defense meetings in response to punitive US tariffs that now total 50% on Indian goods.

President Donald Trump’s decision in August to impose an additional 25% tariff on Indian exports citing India’s continued purchase of Russian oil has triggered New Delhi’s most concrete retaliation yet, including the abrupt cancellation of Defense Minister Rajnath Singh’s planned Washington visit to announce major arms deals.