U.S. President Donald Trump has announced additional 25% tariff on India for its purchases of Russian oil, bringing the combined tariffs imposed by the United States on its ally to 50%.

Former National Security Adviser John Bolton said Wednesday that President Trump’s tariffs may push India further away from the U.S. and into deeper alliances with Russia and China. The president previously threatened to impose a 25 percent tariff on India for purchasing oil from the Kremlin absent of similar punishments for China,

His remarks came during an interview with Fox News on Friday while aboard Air Force One, as he travelled to Alaska for a high-stakes summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

President Donald Trump says the United States and India are still negotiating on trade despite new tariffs slated to begin in a few days.

Trade negotiations between India and the US have stalled, with significant implications for agricultural policies and tariffs on Indian goods.

Many cooking spices are imported from India, and the 50 percent tariffs on the country’s imports could drive costs higher.

Renowned economist and Columbia University Professor Jeffrey Sachs has strongly criticised the United States administration’s tariffs, terming them as pressure tactic on India.

India's merchandise trade deficit hit an eight-month high of over $27 billion in July as imports surged faster than exports ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump's announcements of new tariffs on trading partners,