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'I have a very good relationship with India but they're one of the highest tariffing nations': Donald Trump

by Trans World Features | @twfindia 20 Mar 2025, 02:32 pm

Washington DC: US President Donald Trump Thursday said he shares a "very good relationship" with India, but the "only problem" he has with the country is that it is "one of the highest tariffing nations in the world."

Stating this, Trump once again reiterated his threat to impose reciprocal US tariffs on the country starting April 2.

In an interview with an American news and opinion website, Breitbart News, Trump discussed the US' relationship with India in length.

Asked about his talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi last month, Trump said: "I have a very good relationship with India, but the only problem I have with India is they're one of the highest tariffing nations in the world. I believe they're going to probably be lowering those tariffs substantially, but on April 2, we will be charging them the same tariffs they charge us".

Speaking on the India-Middle East-Europe-Economic Corridor (IMEC), Trump said it was a "group of wonderful nations" banding together "countering other countries that look to hurt us on trade...We have a powerful group of partners in trade."

"Again, we can't let those partners treat us badly, however, we do better in many ways frankly with our foes than we do with our friends. The ones that wouldn't be as friendly to us in some cases treat us better than the ones that are supposed to be friendly, like the European Union, which treats us terribly on trade. India and everybody would think of them as an ally," the US president said.

Trump has repeatedly slammed India's high tariff charges. He has said that India is a very high-tariff nation and reiterated that reciprocal tariffs on countries that impose levies on American goods will kick in on April 2.

In the past, Trump has called India a "tariff king" and a "big abuser".

Last month, during a joint press conference with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the White House, Trump had said that India has "been very strong on tariffs", and "I don't blame them, necessarily, but it's a different way of doing business. It's very hard to sell into India because they have trade barriers, very strong tariffs."