President Trump highlighted India’s high tariffs, claiming they hinder U.S. sales. He indicated that India may reduce these tariffs as attention has been drawn to their unfair nature. Throughout his presidency, he has criticized numerous countries for their tariff practices, asserting the U.S. faces significant trade deficits. Reports reveal the U.S. trade deficit with India increased in 2024.
On Friday, President Donald Trump reiterated his position regarding India’s tariffs, emphasizing that they are excessively high, which has hindered U.S. sales in the country. He stated, “India charges us massive tariffs. Massive. You can’t even sell anything in India… They have agreed, by the way, they want to cut their tariffs way down now because somebody is finally exposing them for what they have done.” This statement was made at a press conference at the White House.
Throughout his presidency, commenced on January 20, Trump has consistently criticized India’s tariff policies. He described the tariffs as “very unfair” during his recent address to Congress, where he pointed out the discrepancy between U.S. tariffs and those imposed by countries such as the European Union, China, and India. He articulated, “On average, the European Union, China, Brazil, India, Mexico and Canada – have you heard of them? – and countless other nations charge us tremendously higher tariffs than we charge them. It’s very unfair.”
Trump specifically mentioned that India imposes auto tariffs exceeding 100 percent. Since taking office, he has implemented a series of tariffs and threats against various nations, including duties up to 25 percent on imports from Canada and Mexico. He announced that starting April 2, the U.S. would enforce tariffs equivalent to those of other countries, proclaiming, “An eye for an eye, a tariff for a tariff, same exact amount.”
At a previous joint press conference with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Trump remarked, “I don’t blame them, necessarily, but it’s a different way of doing business. It’s very hard to sell into India because they have trade barriers, very strong tariffs.” Reports indicate that U.S. goods trade with India was valued at approximately USD 129.2 billion in 2024, with U.S. goods exports to India totaling USD 41.8 billion. The trade deficit with India rose to USD 45.7 billion in 2024, reflecting a 5.4 percent increase from the prior year.
In conclusion, President Trump’s assertions regarding India’s tariffs underscore his administration’s ongoing concerns over trade imbalances. He highlights the challenges faced by U.S. businesses in entering the Indian market due to high tariffs and trade barriers. Furthermore, the U.S.-India trade deficit reflects the complexities within their trade dynamics, urging both nations to find equitable solutions in tariff negotiations.
Original Source: www.ndtv.com
