Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday he will not compromise the interests of the country's farmers even if he has to pay a heavy price, in his first comments after U.S. President Donald Trump's salvo of a 50% tariff on Indian goods.

The Indian prime minister has said his country "is ready" to react to President Donald Trump's additional 25 percent levy on goods entering the U.S.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi pledged to do whatever it takes to safeguard the interests of Indian farmers, a day after President Donald Trump doubled tariffs on Indian goods, with pressure mounting on New Delhi to open up its markets to US exports.