Trump Highlights Imbalance in US-India Trade Relationship

New York/Washington, Sep 3 (PTI) - President Donald Trump recently commented on the US-India relationship, stating that while the two nations get along "very well," he believes the partnership was "one-sided" for many years. This imbalance, according to Trump, stemmed from New Delhi's imposition of "tremendous tariffs" on American goods.

Addressing the issue at the White House, Trump responded to a query about potentially lifting tariffs on India by affirming the positive relationship but highlighting previous economic disparities.

The backdrop of Trump's comments is a tense atmosphere in trade relations, exacerbated by the US enforcing a 50 percent tariff on India, one of the steepest globally.

Trump pointed out that before his administration, the US was at an economic disadvantage due to India's high tariffs, which he claims hindered US exports.

The President cited Harley Davidson's challenges in India as a prime example, noting that the company faced a 200 percent tariff, prompting it to establish a manufacturing foothold in India to bypass these tariffs.

Trump also mentioned that India has recently "offered" to eliminate tariffs, but he expressed skepticism about the timing, remarking on India's minimal purchases of US oil and military goods compared to its deals with Russia.

Since August 27, the US has instituted 25 percent reciprocal tariffs on Indian goods and additional penalties on India's Russian oil buys, summing up the levies to 50 percent.

In response, Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized that India's agricultural and industrial sectors cannot be compromised, indicating resilience against external economic pressures.

India has described the US-imposed tariffs as "unjustified and unreasonable," reinforcing its stance on protecting its national interests and economic security.

The bilateral trade in goods between the two countries reached USD 131.8 billion in 2024-25, with USD 86.5 billion marked as exports and USD 45.3 billion as imports.

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