Trump slams India-US trade ties as ‘one-sided disaster’
Says India’s zero-tariff offer comes too late, points to New Delhi’s heavy reliance on Russian oil and defence imports
US President Donald Trump on Monday (September 1) termed trade relations between India and the US a “totally one-sided disaster.” He claimed India had now offered to reduce tariffs to zero but argued the move was coming too late. Trump also pointed out that India purchases most of its oil and military equipment from Russia, with only a small share coming from the US.
Trump’s comments come as Prime Minister Narendra Modi held bilateral discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin.
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"What few people understand is that we do very little business with India, but they do a tremendous amount of business with us,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social.
He added that India sells to the US, its biggest “client”, “massive" amounts of goods, “but we sell them very little - Until now a totally one sided relationship, and it has been for many decades." "The reason is that India has charged us, until now, such high tariffs, the most of any country, that our businesses are unable to sell into India," he said.
“It has been a totally one sided disaster! Also, India buys most of its oil and military products from Russia, very little from the US. They have now offered to cut their Tariffs to nothing, but it’s getting late. They should have done so years ago. Just some simple facts for people to ponder!!!” Trump said.
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The Trump administration has imposed 25 per cent reciprocal tariffs on India and an additional 25 per cent levies for Delhi’s purchases of Russian oil, bringing the total duties imposed on India to 50 per cent, among the highest in the world.
India has called the tariffs imposed by the US “unjustified and unreasonable”. New Delhi said that, like any major economy, it will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security.
(With agency inputs)