On August 18, 2025, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar in New Delhi, marking their first meeting since the 2020 Galwan clash. The discussions centered on U.S. tariffs imposed on Indian exports, which Wang criticized as "unilateral harassment." The U.S. has levied a 50% tariff on Indian exports—comprising a 25% tariff announced in July 2025 and an additional 25% effective from August 27, 2025—citing India’s purchase of Russian oil as a violation of American interests amid the Ukraine war.
In contrast, China faces a lower 30% tariff and has been offered longer-term negotiations, raising concerns of unfair targeting of India.Wang emphasized that India and China, representing 2.8 billion people, must unite to counter global trade disruptions and promote a multipolar world. India has labeled the U.S. tariffs "unjust, discriminatory, and unreasonable," defending its Russian oil imports as critical for energy security.
Instead of retaliatory tariffs, India is exploring trade agreements with the UK, EU, and other nations to diversify its export markets.China’s embassy in Delhi, through spokesperson Yu Jing and Ambassador Xu Feihong, reiterated that "India’s sovereignty is non-negotiable" and urged cooperation against U.S. tariff overreach. This rare show of solidarity between India and China reflects a shift from rivalry to collaboration in addressing shared economic challenges in South Asia.