Trump imposes 50% tariff on India, and The New York Times alleges a stunning revelation: 'Weeks after their June phone call...'

In a series of recent events, the relationships between the United States, India, and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict have been under the spotlight.

According to reports from two unnamed sources, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Donald Trump had a 35-minute call in June, while Trump was returning from a G7 summit in Canada. The discussions between the two leaders reportedly focused on the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran, as well as the need for direct dialogue between Russia and Ukraine to achieve peace.

However, White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly denied that President Trump had reached out to PM Modi during this period. The MEA (Ministry of External Affairs) in India, on the other hand, termed the US decision to impose additional tariffs on India as "extremely unfortunate."

The US has imposed tariffs on India for actions that several other countries are also taking in their own national interest. The tariffs, amounting to 25% initially and a further 25% as a secondary tariff in August, have been a point of contention between the two nations.

Prime Minister Modi conveyed to President Trump that there was no discussion about an India-U.S. Trade Deal or mediation during their conversation. India's oil imports from Russia, based on market factors, are aimed at ensuring the energy security of its 1.4 billion people.

The New York Times reported that President Trump reached out to PM Modi several times regarding tariff negotiations, but PM Modi did not respond. The report also mentioned that President Trump contends he used trade as leverage to get India and Pakistan to stop fighting, but India has denied this.

The ceasefire between India and Pakistan was initiated at Pakistan's request and through the existing channels of communication between the two armed forces. India does not and will never accept mediation in its conflicts with Pakistan. The details of the ceasefire, as reported by The New York Times, were not provided.

The US-India relationship has been marked by several high-level discussions in recent months. President Trump enquired if Prime Minister Modi could stop over in the US on his way back from Canada, but Modi had prior commitments. Both leaders agreed to make efforts to meet in the near future.

The New York Times report was published on Saturday, August 29, 2025. The report also stated that during the tariff discussions with India, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer reportedly reacted with frustration and considered walking away from the talks over disagreements. However, the specific nature of these disagreements was not detailed in the report.

Trump imposes 50% tariff on India, and The New York Times alleges a stunning revelation: 'Weeks after their June phone call...'