After facing criticism at home regarding his handling of relations with India, US President Donald Trump resorted to his familiar rhetoric, calling past trade engagements with New Delhi a "one-sided disaster." Trump's comments come as Prime Minister Narendra Modi held bilateral discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Tianjin.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said, "What few people understand is that we do very little business with India, but they do a tremendous amount of business with us. In other words, they sell us massive amounts of goods, their biggest 'client,' but we sell them very little—until now a totally one-sided relationship, and it has been for many decades. The reason is that India has charged us, until now, such high Tariffs, the most of any country, that our businesses are unable to sell into India. It has been a totally one sided disaster!"
India offered to cut their tariffs to nothing: Trump
Trump also noted that India buys most of its oil and military products from Russia and very little from the US. He, however, further added that India has now offered to cut its tariffs to zero, but said the move is long overdue.
"They have now offered to cut their tariffs to nothing, but it’s getting late. They should have done so years ago. Just some simple facts for people to ponder!!!" he added.
Trump tariffs on India
The Trump administration has imposed 25 per cent reciprocal tariffs on India and an additional 25 per cent levies for Delhi’s purchases of Russian oil, bringing the total duties imposed on India to 50 per cent, among the highest in the world.
India has called the tariffs imposed by the US "unjustified and unreasonable". New Delhi said that, like any major economy, it will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security.
Prime Minister Modi has asserted he can't compromise on the interests of farmers, cattle-rearers, small-scale industries, cautioning "pressure on us may increase, but we will bear it".
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