Trump Criticizes India's High Tariffs, Reciprocal Measures to Take Effect from April 2

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): US President Donald Trump has once again criticized India's trade practices, referring to the country as a "high tariff nation" while signing executive orders at the Oval Office. Trump reiterated his stance that reciprocal tariffs on nations imposing duties on US goods will come into effect from April 2. This marks the second time Trump has targeted India’s tariff policies, previously calling it a “tariff king” and highlighting the disparity in tariffs between the US and other countries.

In his remarks, Trump emphasized the high auto tariffs imposed by India, which he said were higher than 100 percent. He also compared India’s tariffs to those of China, accusing both nations of charging the US significantly higher tariffs on products than the US imposes in return. He described these tariffs as "unfair."

Trump elaborated on his perspective by also criticizing Canada for what he called excessively high tariffs, particularly on US milk products, lumber, and other goods, while arguing that the US did not need Canada's lumber. He justified the imposition of reciprocal tariffs, stating that the US had been "ripped off" by other countries and, starting April 2, would impose tariffs on nations based on what they charge the US.

The discussion on trade tensions between the two nations is not new. During his meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the White House last month, Trump highlighted the nearly $100 billion US trade deficit with India. The two leaders agreed to begin negotiations to address long-standing trade issues, with Trump noting that these concerns should have been tackled in previous years. He also pointed out India’s strong stance on tariffs, reaffirming his push for a fair trade agreement.