Trump remarks on India-U.S. trade deal and hints at 20-25% tariff, again claims credit for ceasefire between India and Pak.
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Trump hints at 20-25% tariff on India, again claims credit for ceasefire between India and Pak.
U.S. President Donald Trump stated that the India-US trade deal was “working out very well” but hinted at a 20% to 25% tariff on New Delhi. Trump also used the opportunity to claim credit for his role in brokering the ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan, following the recent conflict in May. The conflict was triggered by the April 22 Pahalgam terror attacks, which killed 26 people, and India’s subsequent response, ‘Operation Sindoor,’ involving precision strikes on nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) Earlier on April 22, Trump imposed a tariff of 26% on Indian goods imported to the US, before announcing a pause on those “reciprocal” levies. The self-imposed August 1 deadline date before the tariffs come into effect.
During a gaggle with the press interaction aboard Air Force One on Tuesday (local time), Mr. Trump responded to a report suggesting that India might be preparing for 20 to 25% tariffs, stating that India had been imposing higher tariffs on the U.S. as compared to other countries. He further mentioned that all this would come to an end as he is now “in charge.”
However, Trump hasn’t sent any letters to India announcing the tariff imposed on New Delhi, as he did for many other nations.
“India has been a good friend. But India has charged basically more tariffs than almost any other country over the years. But now I’m in charge. And you just can’t do that. I think the trade deals are working out very well. Hopefully for everybody, but for the United States, they’re very, very good,” the US President said.
Earlier on April 22, Trump imposed a tariff of 26% on Indian goods imported to the US, before announcing a pause on those “reciprocal” levies.
Meanwhile, the Union Minister for Commerce, Piyush Goyal, on Sunday, stated that the trade discussion between India and the U.S. had been going “very well.”
“India today negotiates from a position of strength, a position of confidence. It is this very confidence that continuously encourages us to make good free trade agreements… Our discussions with the United States are progressing very well,” he stated.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, during PM Modi’s visit to the U.K. last week, also stated that India had been actively engaged in discussions with the US on a potential Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA), emphasising the ongoing contacts with partners in the US.
During a press conference following the signing of the India-UK Free Trade Agreement, Misri stated, “We are discussing that under a different vertical. All I can say is that our engagement is underway. The contacts are underway, and we’ll see how that goes.”
On July 14, a senior government official stated that India was making concrete progress toward finalising a BTA with the US, with both countries committed to following the path outlined by their respective leaders.
Speaking on the ongoing trade negotiations, the official emphasised that India is “moving in terms of a BTA” and actively “looking at a mutually beneficial deal” that would serve the interests of both nations.
Trump repeats claim of brokering ceasefire
Mr. Trump also used the opportunity to once again claim credit for his role in brokering the ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan, following the recent conflict in May. The conflict was triggered by the April 22 Pahalgam terror attacks, which killed 26 people, and India’s subsequent response, ‘Operation Sindoor,’ involving precision strikes on nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK).
He also praised India’s leadership under Prime Minister Narendra Modi for its role in regional stability.
“Look, India, they’re my friends and he’s [PM Modi] my friend and you know they ended the war with Pakistan and by request and I was great and Pakistan did also. We did a lot of great settlements,” he said.
India had repeatedly refuted the claims made by the U.S. President, noting that it was Pakistan’s Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) who contacted their Indian counterpart to request an end to hostilities, following which the ceasefire was then agreed upon.
Trump Hints at 20-25% Tariffs on India Ahead of Key Deadline, Calls Trade Talks “Very Good”
US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that India could face tariffs of 20 to 25 percent. This comes only days before a self-imposed August 1st deadline for additional duties. Trump said that the ongoing discussions for a trade deal between India and the US are “working out very well” He also said again that he believes India has put tariffs on US goods that are too high compared to those of other countries.Indian officials, on the other hand, have stayed positive about the trade talks. India is also actively talking with the US on a possible Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) that would be good for both countries. The US President also took the chance on Air Force One to once again take credit for his part in brokering the ceasefire agreement betweenIndia and Pakistan after the recent conflict in May. The April 22nd terrorist bombings in Pahalgam, which killed 26 people, and India’s retaliation, “Operation Sindoor,” which involved precise operations on nine terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), started the conflict.
US President Reasserts Stance on High Indian Tariffs, While India Expresses Confidence in Bilateral Trade Agreement Progress
Washington, D.C. US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that India could face tariffs of 20 to 25 percent. This comes only days before a self-imposed August 1st deadline for additional duties. Even if this threat is getting closer, Trump said that the ongoing discussions for a trade deal between India and the US are “working out very well.” He also said again that he believes India has put tariffs on US goods that are too high compared to those of other countries.
Trump talked about claims that India was ready for such levies during a press conference on Air Force One. He stressed that these kinds of problems would stop happening under his leadership. “India has been a good friend.” But over the years, India has charged the greatest tariffs of any country. But now I’m in command. And you just can’t do that. I believe that the trade agreements are going quite nicely. The US President said, “Hopefully for everyone, but for the United States, they’re very, very good.”
Unlike with some other countries, Trump has not yet given India formal letters announcing the new tariffs. Trump had put a 26 percent tax on Indian goods coming into the US on April 22nd, calling it “reciprocal.” He then said that these taxes would be put on hold.
Indian officials, on the other hand, have stayed positive about the trade talks. Piyush Goyal, the Union Minister for Commerce, said on Sunday that the trade talks between India and the US were going “very well.” “India is now negotiating from a place of strength and confidence.” This trust is what keeps us making solid free trade deals all the time… Goyal said, “Our talks with the United States are going very well.”
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Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said that India is also actively talking with the US on a possible Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA). This was during Prime Minister Modi’s visit to the UK last week to sign the India-UK Free Trade Agreement. He stressed that they are still in touch with partners in the US. Misri said at a press conference, “We are talking about that in a different vertical.” All I can say is that we are getting married. We’re in the middle of making contacts, and we’ll see how it goes.
On July 14, a high-ranking government official said that India was making real progress toward negotiating a BTA with the US. Both nations were determined to implementing the framework set out by their leaders. The official stressed that India is “moving in terms of a BTA” and is actively “looking at a mutually beneficial deal” that would be good for both countries.
Trump also took the chance on Air Force One to once again take credit for his part in brokering the ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan after the recent conflict in May. The April 22nd terrorist bombings in Pahalgam, which killed 26 people, and India’s retaliation, “Operation Sindoor,” which involved precise operations on nine terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), started the conflict. Trump also praised India’s leadership under Prime Minister Narendra Modi for helping to keep the region stable.
“Listen, India, they’re my pals, and PM Modi is my friend. They terminated the conflict with Pakistan by request, and I was fantastic, and Pakistan was great too. “We made a lot of great deals,” Trump said.
India has always denied the US President’s claims that he helped mediate the ceasefire between India and Pakistan, though. Indian officials have said that Pakistan’s Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) was the one who first got in touch with their Indian counterpart to ask for a halt to hostilities, which led to the ceasefire accord.
The next few days will be very important for figuring out what will happen with commerce between India and the US in the near future, as the August 1st deadline approaches.