WASHINGTON: Former US President Donald Trump has once again taken aim at India’s trade policies, stating that while he expects New Delhi to lower tariffs on American goods, the US will press ahead with its own reciprocal tariff measures starting April 2.
In an interview with Breitbart News, Trump expressed optimism about India adjusting its tariffs but reinforced his long-standing stance on trade fairness.
“I believe they’re probably going to be lowering those tariffs substantially, but on April 2, we will be charging them the same tariffs they charge us,” he said.
Trump has frequently criticised India for its high import duties, often calling it the “tariff king.” Despite acknowledging his “very good relationship” with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he reiterated that India remains one of the highest tariff-imposing nations in the world.
Tariff standoff vs trade alliance
The latest remarks come as India pushes for a bilateral trade agreement (BTA) to avoid a full-fledged tariff war. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal recently met with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick in Washington to negotiate a multi-sector deal that could prevent punitive US tariffs.
At the same time, Trump praised the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) as a “group of wonderful nations” countering unfair trade practices from other global players.
However, he warned that even close trade partners must treat the US fairly.
“We have a powerful group of partners in trade, but we can’t let them take advantage of us. Sometimes, our adversaries treat us better than our allies – just look at the European Union,” he remarked.
What’s next?
With Trump’s reciprocal tariffs set to take effect on April 2, all eyes are on how India responds. If Modi’s government can negotiate a trade deal that eases tensions, it could prevent a damaging tariff war and pave the way for stronger economic ties.
However, if the standoff escalates, it may test the resilience of one of the world’s most crucial trade relationships.
