As the U.S. prepares to implement reciprocal tariffs, Trump criticizes India's high duties on American goods while claiming New Delhi has agreed to reduce tariffs under pressure.
Trump Targets India’s Tariffs, Promises Tough Trade Action
Washington, DC [US], March 8 – U.S. President Donald Trump has taken aim at India's trade policies, accusing New Delhi of imposing “massive tariffs” that make it “next to impossible” for American companies to do business.
In a nationally televised address, Trump announced that his administration will soon enforce reciprocal tariffs against countries with high levies on U.S. goods. However, he claimed that India has now agreed to reduce its tariffs, crediting his administration for exposing their trade practices.
"India charges us massive tariffs. You can’t even sell anything in India… They have agreed to cut their tariffs way down now because somebody is finally exposing them for what they have done," Trump stated from the White House.
April 2: A Major Shift in U.S. Trade Policy
The reciprocal tariffs, set to take effect on April 2, signal a major shift in U.S. trade strategy. Trump vowed that the U.S. will no longer tolerate trade imbalances and unfair import duties from partner nations, including:
- India’s over 100% tariff on automobile imports
- Canada’s 250% tariff on U.S. milk products
- The European Union’s trade barriers against American goods
"Other countries have used tariffs against us for decades, and now it's our turn to start using them against those other countries. The European Union, China, Brazil, India, Mexico, Canada—all of them charge us tremendously higher tariffs than we charge them. It’s very unfair," Trump declared.
U.S. to Enforce Tougher Tariffs on Canada and EU
Trump also singled out Canada, calling its tariff policies exploitative.
"Canada has been ripping us off for years on tariffs for lumber and dairy products. A 250% tariff on our farmers? That’s not going to happen anymore. They’ll be met with the exact same tariff unless they drop it," he warned.
Additionally, Trump criticized the European Union, claiming that it was designed to take advantage of the U.S.
"The EU has been a terrible abuser of this country. I mean, the EU was formulated in order to take advantage of the United States," he asserted.
India-U.S. Trade Talks Amidst Rising Tariff Tensions
While Trump has taken a hard stance on tariffs, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick expressed optimism about trade relations with India, particularly in agriculture.
- Lutnick emphasized that India needs to open its agricultural market.
- He suggested quotas and limits as potential solutions.
- He acknowledged that finding a mutually beneficial agreement requires cooperation from both sides.
"The Indian market for agriculture has to open up. It can’t just stay closed. Now, how you do that and the scale by which you do that—that’s where we negotiate smartly," Lutnick said during the India Today Conclave.
Mission 500: A Bold Trade Target for India & U.S.
Despite the tariff disputes, the U.S. and India are moving towards deeper trade cooperation.
- "Mission 500" aims to double bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030.
- A multi-sector Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) is in discussion, set to be finalized by Fall 2025.
- India’s Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal recently visited the U.S. to advance negotiations.
Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi have committed to strengthening U.S.-India trade ties, ensuring fairness, national security, and job creation.
With April 2 approaching, global markets will be watching closely to see how India and other nations respond to the U.S.’s aggressive new trade policies.
Tags: U.S.-India Trade, Donald Trump, Tariff War, India Tariffs, Reciprocal Tariffs, Global Trade Policy, Modi-Trump Relations, Canada Tariffs, European Union, Bilateral Trade Agreement
Hashtags: #TrumpTariffs #USIndiaTrade #TradeWar #ReciprocalTariffs #ModiTrump #EconomicPolicy #TariffDispute #Mission500 #BilateralTrade #USMCA
Last Updated on March 8, 2025 by Sandeep
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