New Delhi, Aug. 7 -- In a sharp escalation of trade tensions, United States of America President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced an additional 25 per cent tariff on Indian goods, doubling the total tariff rate to 50 per cent. The move comes in response to India's continued imports of Russian crude oil and has triggered a strong diplomatic backlash from New Delhi.

In an executive order signed earlier in the day, President Trump cited India's oil trade with Russia as a national security concern, alleging that it supports Russian President Vladimir Putin's ongoing war in Ukraine. The order, which will come into effect in 21 days, states, "I find the Government of India is currently directly or indirectly importing Russian Federation oil...