Washington: US President Donald Trump on Monday claimed that India has offered to reduce tariffs on American goods to zero, insisting that New Delhi should have acted years ago. Speaking on Truth Social, Trump described the US-India trade relationship as a “one-sided disaster,” highlighting what he sees as long-standing imbalances in commerce between the two nations.
Trump’s administration has imposed a series of tariffs on India, including a 25 per cent reciprocal levy and an additional 25 per cent on Delhi’s purchases of Russian oil. These measures brought total duties on Indian goods to 50 per cent among the highest globally. The President has repeatedly accused India of indirectly supporting Russia’s military operations in Ukraine through oil purchases, while refraining from imposing tougher sanctions on Moscow itself.
“They have now offered to cut their tariffs to nothing, but it’s getting late. They should have done so years ago,” Trump wrote, emphasizing that while India remains a major seller to the US market, American exports to India are minimal. “Until now, a totally one-sided relationship… India buys most of its oil and military products from Russia, very little from the U.S.”
New Delhi, however, maintained a measured response. Officials stressed that, like any major economy, India will protect its national interests and economic security while engaging in dialogue. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said India would focus on expanding its markets, signaling no intention to bow to external pressure.
Trump’s comments coincided with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s bilateral discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Tianjin. The meetings underscore India’s ongoing balancing act between major global powers amid a period of heightened US tariffs.
The President has consistently used tariffs as a policy tool since returning to the White House, though a recent US Court of Appeals ruling deemed many of his measures illegal. The court allowed the levies to remain temporarily, leaving Trump time to appeal to the Supreme Court.
Trade tensions have particularly affected sectors such as agriculture and dairy, with Washington seeking greater access to Indian markets, while Modi remains committed to protecting domestic farmers. Despite these challenges, the US remained India’s top export destination in 2024, with shipments totaling $87.3 billion.
Trump’s latest statements highlight both the contentious nature of the US-India trade relationship and his continued reliance on tariffs as a strategic lever in global commerce.