New Delhi, July 30 (Reporter) As US President Donald Trump announced a sweeping 25% tariff on India starting August 1, New Delhi said it is studying the implications, and added that it is committed to protecting and promoting the welfare of its farmers, entrepreneurs, and MSMEs. India also said it will take all steps necessary to secure the country’s national interest with regard to a trade agreement with the US. The statement read: “The Government has taken note of a statement by the US President on bilateral trade. The Government is studying its implications. “India and the US have been engaged in negotiations on concluding a fair, balanced and mutually beneficial bilateral trade agreement over the last few months. “We remain committed to that objective. “The Government attaches the utmost importance to protecting and promoting the welfare of our farmers, entrepreneurs, and MSMEs. “The Government will take all steps necessary to secure our national interest, as has been the case with other trade agreements including the latest Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement with the UK,” the statement added. The Indian reaction came as the US President posted on his Truth Social account, again accusing India of imposing high tariffs: “Remember, 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. “Also, they have always bought a vast majority of their military equipment from Russia, and are Russia’s largest buyer of ENERGY, along with China, at a time when everyone wants Russia to STOP THE KILLING IN UKRAINE “— ALL THINGS NOT GOOD! INDIA WILL THEREFORE BE PAYING A TARIFF OF 25%, PLUS A PENALTY FOR THE ABOVE, STARTING ON AUGUST FIRST. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER. MAGA!” Trump's reference to India's purchase of Russian oil comes amid the backdrop of the Russian Sanctions Act, 2025, which has been introduced in the US Senate and House of Representatives. It proposes 500% duties on countries that buy oil or other petroleum products from Russia. Trump’s announcement comes as India and the US held the fifth round of talks last week in Washington but failed to reach an agreement...////...