Dhaka, Aug. 27 -- US President Donald Trump's doubling of tariffs on goods from India to as much as 50 per cent took effect as scheduled on Wednesday, escalating tensions between the world's two largest democracies and strategic partners.

A punitive 25 per cent tariff imposed due to India's purchases of Russian oil adds to Trump's prior 25 per cent tariff on many products from India. It takes total duties to as high as 50 per cent for goods such as garments, gems and jewellery, footwear, sporting goods, furniture and chemicals - among the highest imposed by the US and on par with Brazil and China.

The new tariffs threaten thousands of small exporters and jobs, including in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home state of Gujarat, as per a R...