By The White House
US President Donald Trump stated that he maintains a strong relationship with India; however, he expressed concern over the country’s status as one of the highest tariff-imposing nations globally. He reiterated his intention to implement reciprocal tariffs on India, effective April 2.
In an interview with Breitbart News, a platform for American news and commentary, Trump addressed the US-India relationship. When asked about his recent summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he remarked, “I have a very good relationship with India, but my only issue is that they impose some of the highest tariffs in the world. I anticipate that they will likely reduce those tariffs significantly, but starting April 2, we will impose the same tariffs on them that they impose on us.”
Regarding the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), Trump described it as a coalition of commendable nations uniting to counteract other countries that threaten US trade interests. “We have a formidable group of trade partners,” he noted.
“However, we cannot allow these partners to treat us poorly. Interestingly, we often find that we fare better in many respects with our adversaries than with our allies. Those who may not be as friendly sometimes offer us better treatment than those who are expected to be allies, such as the European Union, which has a poor trade relationship with us. While many view India as an ally, I can extend that observation to others as well. This coalition of remarkable nations is working together to counteract those who seek to undermine our trade.”
Trump has consistently condemned the elevated tariffs imposed by India, labeling the country as one with exceptionally high tariffs. He has emphasized that reciprocal tariffs on nations that levy taxes on American products will be implemented starting April 2. Previously, he referred to India as the “tariff king” and accused it of significant trade abuses.
In a joint press conference with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the White House last month, Trump remarked on India’s strong stance on tariffs, acknowledging that while he does not entirely blame them, it represents a different approach to business. He noted the challenges of selling products in India due to its stringent trade barriers and high tariffs.
On March 10, Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal informed a Parliamentary panel in New Delhi that discussions are ongoing, and no trade tariff agreement has yet been established between India and the United States.
India has expressed its intention to enhance trade relations with the US, including efforts to lower both tariff and non-tariff barriers through a bilateral trade agreement. During Prime Minister Modi’s recent visit to the US, both nations announced their commitment to negotiate a mutually advantageous, multi-sector Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA).
