Trump Attacks India’s Tariffs & Pushes for More Trade and Defense Deals

USA: U.S. President Donald Trump has once again targeted India over its high tariffs, stating that the country has been “exposed for what they have done.” His remarks come amid ongoing U.S.-India trade negotiations, where Washington is pressuring India to lower tariffs, open its agricultural markets, and reduce defense purchases from Russia.

Key Highlights:

Trade Tariffs and Market Access

U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has called on India to lower its high import tariffs, which are among the highest in the world.
He emphasized that India must reassess its “special relationship” with the U.S. and reduce trade barriers.
The U.S. wants India to open up its agricultural sector, which has long been protected to support small farmers.
Lutnick proposed a quota-based trade deal where certain products could have limits, but both sides would agree on market access terms.
The U.S. has a $45.6 billion trade deficit with India and is seeking tariff reductions to level the playing field.

Defense Purchases and Strategic Shift

The U.S. is urging India to stop purchasing defense equipment from Russia and instead buy advanced American weaponry.
Trump recently announced that the U.S. will start supplying F-35 fighter jets to India beginning in 2025.
Since 2008, India has already committed to purchasing over $20 billion worth of U.S. defense products.

Bilateral Trade Deal and Future Agreements

After a meeting between Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, both countries agreed to work towards resolving tariff disputes.
They aim to finalize the first phase of a trade agreement by autumn 2025.
The long-term goal is to achieve $500 billion in bilateral trade by 2030.

The negotiations underscore the growing economic and strategic partnership between India and the U.S., but also highlight key disagreements over trade policies and defense alliances.

Daily Quote

“Forgive people in your life, even those who are not sorry for their actions. Holding on to anger only hurts you, not them.”

More Hyderabad News