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Informist, Thursday, May 15, 2025

 

--US Trump: New Delhi's high tariffs hinder US businesses in India 
--US Trump: Told Apple CEO Tim Cook to not build in India 
--CONTEXT: US Trump in his address to CEOs in Qatar 
--US Trump: India offered to charge no tariff on US goods 

 

NEW DELHI – The Indian government is willing to charge no tariffs on American goods, US President Donald Trump said Thursday. New Delhi has been engaged in negotiations for a trade deal with Washington since February. 

 

The high tariffs imposed by New Delhi hinder US exporters' businesses in India, the US President, who is on a tour of West Asian countries this week, said in an address to chief executive officers in Qatar. The US is not even in the "top 30" among the import sources for India, Trump added.   

 

Trump has expressed dissatisfaction over US' huge trade deficit with other nations, especially India and China, at multiple instances in the last few months, even before assuming office of the President of the US in January. To bridge the trade gap, his administration also proposed to impose reciprocal tariffs on all countries.

 

A bilateral trade agreement with the US is New Delhi's hope to avoid Washington's proposed reciprocal tariffs of 26% on Indian goods, likely to be effected in July. The reciprocal duty could significantly affect India's exports growth as the US is the top export destination with outbound shipments worth $76.36 billion to the US in Apr-Feb, according to latest data available with the commerce ministry.

 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his visit to the US in February, had assured Trump that the US will become the leading supplier of oil and natural gas to India. Both leaders have set the target to increase the bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030. 

 

The US' reciprocal duties on China were immediately effected in April. This had led to a tariff war, with Washington raising tariffs to 145% on Chinese goods and Beijing levying 125% duty on US goods. These duties have now been suspended for 90 days, the two countries announced on Monday.

 

Due to the tariff war, the 'China+1' strategy gained prominence and several businesses, including the maker of electronic devices Apple Inc., planned to expand capacity in India. Following the suspension of tariffs on China, Trump said he has asked Apple CEO Tim Cook to not expand capacity in India. "I don't want you (Cook) building over India. India can take care of themselves," Trump said, adding that he wants Apple to build capacity in the US.  End

 

US$1 = INR 85.55

 

Reported by Krity Ambey

Edited by Tanima Banerjee

 

 

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