Trump claims India willing to cut ‘100% of tariffs for United States’

U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed that India is prepared to eliminate all tariffs on American goods, signaling a potential breakthrough in trade negotiations between Washington and New Delhi. Trump described India as one of the world’s highest-tariff nations, asserting that its trade barriers make business challenging for U.S. companies. “Do you know that they’re willing to cut 100% of their tariffs for the United States?” he stated, emphasizing his role in advancing trade talks.

However, India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar tempered expectations, stressing that any trade agreement must benefit both nations. Jaishankar noted that negotiations are complex and ongoing, with no final deal until all details are resolved. “Nothing is decided till everything is,” he told local news agencies, countering Trump’s assertion of a zero-tariff offer.

Trump’s remarks come amid heightened trade discussions, with India’s Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal leading a delegation to the U.S. starting May 16, 2025, to further negotiations. The U.S. remains India’s largest trading partner, with bilateral trade reaching $129 billion in 2024, and India maintaining a $45.7 billion trade surplus, per government data. India has proposed reducing its tariff gap with the U.S. from 13% to under 4% to secure exemptions from Trump’s tariff hikes.

Trump has made similar claims about India’s tariff concessions multiple times, including during a business roundtable in Doha, Qatar, and in conversations with reporters. He has linked these trade talks to broader diplomatic efforts, such as his claimed role in easing tensions between India and Pakistan. On May 10, 2025, Trump announced a ceasefire between the two nations, a claim that has drawn scrutiny in India, where officials have denied discussing trade in those talks.