In a televised interview, US President Donald Trump emphasized that India will face reciprocal tariffs, reflecting his global trade policy. During a discussion with billionaire Elon Musk and Fox News’ Sean Hannity, Trump recounted telling Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the US would impose tariffs equivalent to India’s, especially citing India’s high automobile import duties, which can reach 100%. Trump criticized these tariffs as unfair to American companies, asserting that they hinder US exports unless companies manufacture in India. Both nations aim to boost bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030 and negotiate a trade agreement by Autumn 2025.
New Delhi:
In a joint televised interview with billionaire Elon Musk, US President Donald Trump emphasized that India will not be exempt from Washington’s reciprocal tariffs. During a discussion with Fox News’ Sean Hannity, President Trump reiterated his views on global trade and the current tariff systems among the US and its trading partners.
“I told Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi yesterday – he was here – I said, ‘Here’s what we’re going to do: reciprocal. Whatever you charge, I’m charging,'” President Trump stated, recounting his discussion with the PM. “He (PM Modi) responded, ‘No, no, I don’t like that.’ ‘No, no, whatever you charge, I’m going to charge.’ I’m doing that with every country.”
India imposes some of the highest tariffs on specific imports from the US, particularly in the automotive industry, where duties on foreign vehicles can soar to 100 percent. Mr. Musk, who was sitting next to President Trump, affirmed this, remarking, “It’s 100 percent – auto imports are 100 percent.”
President Trump replied: “Yeah, that’s peanuts. So much higher. And others too.”
He asserted that such tariffs make it nearly impossible for American businesses to operate in India without establishing manufacturing facilities there, which he deems “unfair” to the US economy.
Under his suggested reciprocal tariff framework, the US would implement the same degree of tariffs on Indian imports as India imposes on American products. “Nobody can argue with me,” President Trump asserted. “If I said 25 percent, they’d react, ‘Oh, that’s terrible.’ I don’t say that anymore… because I say, ‘Whatever they charge, we’ll charge.’ And you know what? They stop.”
This isn’t the first instance of President Trump confronting India over tariffs. During his initial term, he frequently labeled India as the “tariff king,” pointing out the steep import duties on US products. Following Prime Minister Modi’s recent visit to Washington, both nations pledged to double bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030 and to negotiate a bilateral trade agreement (BTA) by Autumn 2025.