US President Donald Trump on Friday once again lashed out at India’s high tariffs, calling them “massive” and claiming that selling goods in the country is nearly impossible. However, he also asserted that India has now agreed to reduce tariffs, following pressure from his administration.
“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,” Trump told reporters at the White House.
Trump Targets India’s Trade Policies Again
Since taking office in January 2025, Trump has repeatedly criticized India’s tariff structure, often branding it as “very unfair.” Speaking at a joint session of Congress on Tuesday, he reiterated his stance on global trade imbalances, particularly focusing on tariffs imposed by India, China, and the European Union.
“Other countries have used tariffs against us for decades, and now it’s our turn to start using them against those other countries,” Trump said.
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He further emphasized that the European Union, China, Brazil, Mexico, Canada, and India charge the US significantly higher tariffs than what Washington imposes on them.
“Reciprocal Tariffs” by April 2
The Trump administration has ramped up tariff actions, with the President announcing that “reciprocal tariffs” will be introduced as early as April 2.
“An eye for an eye, a tariff for a tariff, same exact amount,” Trump declared, a sentiment he also expressed during his presidential election campaign.
One of Trump’s biggest grievances with India has been automobile tariffs, which he claims are excessively high.
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“India charges us auto tariffs higher than 100 per cent,” he said, doubling down on his long-standing criticism.
During a joint press conference with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the White House last month, Trump had also remarked that India’s strong tariff policies make it difficult for American businesses to access the Indian market.
“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,” he had said.
US-India Trade Deficit Grows
According to recent trade reports, the total US-India goods trade in 2024 was valued at $129.2 billion. However, the US trade deficit with India widened to $45.7 billion, marking a 5.4% increase from 2023.
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Key Trade Figures (2024):
- US exports to India: $41.8 billion
- US imports from India: $87.5 billion
- Trade deficit: $45.7 billion (+$2.4 billion from 2023)
With Trump ramping up pressure on India over tariffs, all eyes are now on New Delhi’s next move—whether it will proactively slash import duties or face reciprocal measures from Washington.
