President Donald Trump has labeled India as a high-tariff nation while announcing reciprocal tariffs starting April 2. He criticized other countries, especially Canada, for high tariffs and expressed intentions to negotiate better trade terms addressing the U.S. trade deficit with India, which amounted to nearly $100 billion in 2024. Statistics for U.S.-India goods trade reveal significant increases in both exports and imports.
U.S. President Donald Trump has characterized India as a nation with high tariffs, reiterating that reciprocal tariffs on countries imposing levies on American goods will take effect on April 2. He specifically highlighted India’s tariffs, stating, “India is a very high tariff nation.” Trump pointed out that Canada has also imposed significant tariffs, particularly on milk and lumber products, which he believes is unnecessary given the U.S. lumber resources.
Trump mentioned that the current tariffs are temporary and relatively low, but the upcoming reciprocal tariffs will represent a significant shift in U.S. trade policy. “The predominant tariffs… will start from April 2 and they will be a ‘big game changer for our country,’” he asserted. He expressed his anticipation for this date, claiming that the U.S. has been “ripped off by every country in the world.”
During his recent joint address to Congress, Trump criticized high tariffs from India and other nations, labeling them as unfair. He made it clear that under his administration, anyone not manufacturing products in America would face tariffs, emphasizing, “it’s our turn to start using them against those other countries.” Trump has previously referred to India as a “tariff king” and noted the difficulty of selling in the Indian market due to stringent trade barriers.
The trade deficit with India amounts to nearly $100 billion, according to Trump, and he has indicated that negotiations will commence to remedy long-standing disparities in the U.S.-India trading relationship. In 2024, the total U.S. goods trade with India was estimated at $129.2 billion, with U.S. exports and imports showing healthy increases from the previous year. The goods trade deficit with India reached $45.7 billion in 2024, marking a 5.4% increase from 2023.
In summary, President Trump has criticized India’s high tariffs and reinforced the U.S. commitment to impose reciprocal tariffs beginning April 2. He expressed concerns over the U.S. trade deficit with India and reiterated the need for equitable trade negotiations. His administration aims to address longstanding trade disparities, while the statistics indicate a significant trade relationship with marked growth in both imports and exports.
Original Source: www.thehindu.com
