U.S. tariffs of 50 percent took effect Wednesday on many Indian products, doubling an existing duty as U.S. President Donald Trump sought to punish New Delhi for buying Russian oil.

Trump has stepped up pressure on India over the energy transactions, a key source of revenue for Moscow, as part of a campaign to end the Ukraine conflict.

While Trump has slapped fresh duties on allies and competitors alike since returning to the presidency in January, this 50-percent level is among the highest that U.S. trading partners face.

However, exemptions remain for sectors that could be hit with separate levies, including pharmaceuticals and computer chips.

The Trump administration has launched investigations into these and other sectors that could culminate in further duties. Smartphones are in the list of exempted products as well.

Industries that have already been singled out, such as steel, aluminum and automobiles, are similarly spared these countrywide levies.

The United States was India's top export destination in 2024, with shipments worth $87.3 billion.

But analysts have cautioned that a 50 percent duty is akin to a trade embargo and is likely to harm smaller firms.

New Delhi has criticized Washington's move as "unfair, unjustified and unreasonable."

The world's fifth-largest economy is looking to cushion the blow, with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi promising to lower the tax burden on citizens during an annual speech to mark India's independence.

Modi earlier vowed self-reliance as well, pledging to defend his country's interests.

Russia accounted for nearly 36 percent of India's total crude oil imports in 2024. Buying Russian oil saved India billions of dollars on import costs, keeping domestic fuel prices relatively stable.

Indian Oil, the country's biggest and state-owned refiner, has said it will continue to buy Russian crude depending on the economics, company sources told Reuters last week.

(With input from AFP and Reuters)