New Delhi, Aug. 7 -- U.S. President Donald Trump, on Wednesday, an additional 25 per cent tariff on Indian imports as a punitive measure in response to New Delhi's ongoing purchases of Russian crude oil. With this move, the total U.S. tariff on Indian exports now stands at 50 per cent - 20 percentage points higher than the tariff on Chinese goods - posing a serious blow to India's export competitiveness.

The revised tariff regime, revealed late Wednesday, is set to take effect after a 21-day grace period beginning August 27, 2025. Although this period offers a brief opportunity for diplomatic negotiations, both nations currently face limited avenues for resolution.

Indian benchmark indices, Sensex and Nifty50, opened lower for the third...