Key points
- Trump warns India would not be spared from higher tariffs
- Trump calls import levies imposed by Modi’s India “very unfair and strong”
- Whatever India charges, we charge them: Trump
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has warned that India will not be spared from higher tariffs as the US president has begun imposing tariffs on US trade partners worldwide.
The statement comes as Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met at the White House on Thursday.
“India is a very hard place to do business because of the tariffs. They have the highest tariffs, just about in the world, and it’s a hard place to do business,” Trump said.
“India would not be spared”
“Whatever India charges, we charge them,” Trump said at a joint news conference where he stood next to Modi. “So, frankly, it no longer matters to us that much what they charge,” US media reported.
According to US media, Trump called the import levies imposed by Modi’s country “very unfair and strong.”
As he has while recently hosting other foreign leaders, Donald Trump talked about ensuring that the US erases its trade deficit with India. Donald Trump suggested that could be done by increasing US energy exports to India but also promised to restore “fairness and reciprocity” to the economic relationship and said he and Modi had begun working on a major trade deal that could be completed later this year.
