Trump slaps India with 25% tariff & unspecified “penalty” | Hook News Brief

Hook News Brief | 31.07.25

Trump hits key allies India, South Korea and Brazil with tariffs

US President Donald Trump has announced a string of tariffs for key allies effective Friday, August 1st.

India will be hit with a 25% tariff on her goods, as well as an unspecified penalty for the country’s purchase of Russian oil and military equipment. Announcing the trade moves on Truth Social, Trump said they are necessary to reverse a long-running trade imbalance.

Another ally, South Korea will be subjected to a 15% tariff, while US exports will not face duties under the “full and complete” trade deal. Furthermore, South Korea will also pay $350 billion for investments “owned and controlled” by the US and purchase $100 billion in liquefied natural gas and other energy products.

Brazil has been hit with 50% tariffs, some of the steepest levied on any economy in the US trade war. Trump though softened the blow by excluding sectors such as aircraft, energy and orange juice from heavier levies.

Trump said the move was necessary to fight what he has called a “witch hunt” against former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro.

Trump administration sanctions Brazilian Supreme Court Judge

Additionally, the Trump administration also unveiled sanctions on Alexandre de Moraes, the Brazilian Supreme Court justice who has been overseeing Bolsonaro's trial on charges of plotting a coup.

Members of current Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva denounced the move as one intended to undermine Brazilian democracy.

Canada follows UK, France in recognising a Palestinian state

Shifting focus, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced plans to recognise a Palestinian state in September. Canada becomes the third G7 nation to make such an announcement in recent days following the UK and France before that. Carney added that the move depends on democratic reforms, including the Palestinian Authority holding elections next year without Hamas.

Google to sign EU's AI code of practice despite concerns

In other news, tech behemoth Google will sign the European Union's “Code of Practice” which aims to help companies comply with the bloc's landmark Artificial Intelligence Act (AI Act). Kent Walker, Alphabet’s chief legal officer, added that Google was concerned that the AI Act and code of practice risk slowing Europe's development and deployment of AI.

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