US President Donald Trump claims India is ready to eliminate all tariffs on American goods, calling it a breakthrough. However, India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar says trade negotiations remain ongoing and complex, warning against premature conclusions.
May 17, 2025: US President Donald Trump has claimed that India has offered to eliminate all tariffs on US goods in a major trade breakthrough. Speaking in an interview with Fox News, Trump said, “Do you know they’re willing to cut 100% of their tariffs for the United States?”
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Calling India “a top example of a country with barriers I’m determined to dismantle,” Trump suggested that a zero-tariff deal with India may be “coming soon,” but added, “I’m in no rush. Everybody wants to make a deal with us.”
Jaishankar Counters: “Too Early To Judge”
However, India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar responded to Trump’s assertions with caution, stating that trade negotiations with the US are far from final.
“Between India and the US, trade talks have been going on. These are complicated negotiations. Nothing is decided till everything is. Any trade deal has to be mutually beneficial,” Jaishankar told reporters on Thursday.
He emphasized that India expects a fair, balanced deal, and warned against assuming any deal is finalized until all issues are resolved.
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In the same interview, Trump also said he used trade as a lever to broker a ceasefire between India and Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 civilians were killed.
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“I’m using trade to settle scores and make peace,” Trump said.
He further revealed that Pakistan was offered the prospect of expanded trade during the behind-the-scenes efforts to defuse tensions.
Trump also hinted at new unilateral tariff decisions expected over the next “two to three weeks,” suggesting a major reshaping of global trade dynamics.
US-China Tariff Truce
Trump contrasted India’s purported concessions with the recent US-China tariff deal, where:
- US tariffs were reduced from 145% to 30%
- China reciprocated by slashing tariffs from 125% to 10%
“If I didn’t do that deal with China, I think China would have broken apart,” Trump claimed.
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