WASHINGTON, July 30: US President Donald Trump has announced that a 25 per cent-plus tariff will be imposed on Indian goods starting August 1, citing longstanding trade imbalances and high Indian tariffs.

In a social media post, President Trump referred to India as a "friend" but criticized the country’s trade practices, saying the US has done “relatively little business” with India due to what he called “very high” tariffs and “obnoxious non-monetary trade barriers.”

“India’s tariffs are far too high. They have the most strenuous and unfair trade barriers we’ve seen,” Trump wrote. He added that the new tariffs are a penalty aimed at addressing these issues.

The move is expected to escalate trade tensions between the two countries, even as both sides continue to describe their relationship as strategically important.