New Delhi, July 30 -- In a sharp escalation ahead of the crucial tariff deadline, US President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced that Indian goods will face a 25% tariff along with an additional penalty starting 1 August, citing high trade barriers, India's defence and energy ties with Russia, and what he called a "lopsided" economic relationship.

In a post on his social media platform TruthSocial, Trump said, "While India is our friend, we have, over the years, done relatively little business with them because their tariffs are far too high, among the highest in the world, and they have the most strenuous and obnoxious non-monetary trade barriers of any country."

He further criticised India's defence purchases from Russia and its rol...