Entertainment
Trump’s doubling of tariffs on Indian imports takes effect, hiking tensions
- Tariffs of up to 50% threaten Indian exporters and jobs.
- Failed talks blamed on political misjudgment, missed signals.
- US, India seek to highlight security partnership.
WASHINGTON/NEW DELHI: US President Donald Trump’s doubling of tariffs on goods from India to as much as 50% took effect as scheduled on Wednesday, escalating tensions between the world’s two largest democracies and strategic partners.
A punitive 25% tariff imposed due to India’s purchases of Russian oil adds to Trump’s prior 25% tariff on many products from India. It takes total duties to as high as 50% 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.
An Indian Commerce Ministry official said on condition of anonymity that exporters hit by tariffs would receive financial assistance and be encouraged to diversify to markets such as China, Latin America and the Middle East.
A US Customs and Border Protection notice to shippers provides a three-week exemption for Indian goods that were loaded onto a vessel and in transit to the US before the midnight deadline. These goods can still enter the US at prior lower tariff rates before 12:01am EDT (0401 GMT) on September 17.
Also exempted are steel, aluminum and derivative products, passenger vehicles, copper and other goods subject to separate tariffs of up to 50% under the Section 232 national security trade law.
India trade ministry officials say the average tariff on US imports is around 7.5%, while the US Trade Representative’s office has highlighted rates of up to 100% on autos and an average applied tariff rate of 39% on US farm goods.
Failed talks
As the midnight activation deadline approached, US officials offered no hope for India to avert the tariffs.
“Yeah,” said White House trade adviser Peter Navarro when asked if the increased tariffs on India’s US-bound exports would go into effect as previously announced on Wednesday. He offered no further details.
Wednesday’s tariff move follows five rounds of failed talks, during which Indian officials had signalled optimism that US tariffs could be capped at 15%, the rate granted to goods from some other major US trade partners including Japan, South Korea and the European Union.
Officials on both sides blamed political misjudgment and missed signals for the breakdown in talks between the world’s biggest and fifth-largest economies. Their two-way goods trade totaled $129 billion in 2024, with a $45.8 billion US trade deficit, according to US Census Bureau data.
Exporter groups estimate hikes could affect nearly 55% of India’s $87 billion in merchandise exports to the US, while benefiting competitors such as Vietnam, Bangladesh and China.
Sustained tariffs at this rate could dent India’s growing appeal as an alternative manufacturing hub to China for goods such as smartphones and electronics.
The US-India standoff has raised questions about the broader relationship between India and the US, important security partners who share concerns about China.
However, on Tuesday the US State Department and India’s Ministry of External Affairs issued identical statements saying senior officials of the ministries and defense departments met virtually on Monday and expressed “eagerness to continue enhancing the breadth and depth of the bilateral relationship.”
Both sides also reaffirmed their commitment to the Quad, a partnership that brings together the US and India with Australia and Japan.
Bobby Cannavale’s son Jake has given fans an update on the bearded dragon that recently made his father the talk of awards season, and it sounds like Benny Blue has settled in just fine.
Jake Cannavale, 30, spoke to E! News at the premiere of his new series Scarpetta on 3rd March, confirming that he and the family’s new reptile have formed quite the bond.
“Oh dude, me and Benny are tight,” he said. “Benny Blue the Bearded Dragon. I love that guy.”
Benny became an unlikely celebrity earlier this year after Bobby skipped the Golden Globes to go and collect him, a decision that sparked considerable amusement online.
Jake reflected on how the arrival of the bearded dragon has revealed a softer side of his father, particularly when it comes to animals.
“It’s funny because you know my dad hated pets growing up,” he said. “And now he’s being a dad again, and everything sort of has changed and he loves animals now. It’s hilarious.”
Bobby shares sons Rocco, 10, and Rafael, 8, with his partner Rose Byrne.
Jake’s involvement with the household has increased to actual babysitting duties, for the lizard, at least.
While Bobby took the boys to Disney, Jake stayed at the house for a few days to look after Benny, getting a crash course in bearded dragon care along the way.
“You have to dip the crickets in calcium powder and cover them in vitamins so that the bearded dragon will get its vitamins from the crickets,” he explained.
Despite the insect-handling, he described the whole experience as surprisingly therapeutic.
“It’s a very cathartic experience. Because he doesn’t really know what’s going on. And sometimes I think, ‘Wow that must be so nice, you’re just a lizard, in the desert. You don’t even know you’re in a cage right now.'”
The United States (U.S.) has opened another military front in Ecuador amid the ongoing Iran war.
According to the U.S. military’s Southern Command, the U.S. and Ecuadorian forces launched joint military operations against “designated terrorist organisations.”
The military did not provide further details; however, it hinted that the operations were part of President Donald Trump’s intensified campaign against drug trafficking in South America.
The Commander of the U.S. Southern Command praised the Ecuadorian residents for their support and unwavering commitment.
Marine General Francis L. Donovan said, “The men and women of Ecuadorian armed forces have demonstrated remarkable courage and resolve through continued actions against narco-terrorists in their country.”
Since returning to the Oval Office for his second term, President Trump has intensified campaign against what the U.S. administration describes as drug trafficking.
The U.S. has carried out around 45 strikes on suspected smuggling vessels killing around 150 people in the Caribbean and the Pacific Ocean.
Ecuador has been in a state of emergency regarding narco-terrorism since 2024 after gangs stormed a TV station during a live broadcast and took the staff hostage.
Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa sought help from the U.S. against drug-trafficking gangs.
On a visit to the South American country in September last year, the U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio vowed to “blow up” gangs if needed and reaffirmed U.S. support in Ecuadorian government’s campaign against narco-terrorists.
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