“India Kills Us with Tariffs”: Trump Repeats Claim of Zero-Duty Offer from New Delhi
“India Kills Us with Tariffs”: Trump Repeats Claim of Zero-Duty Offer from New Delhi
US President Donald Trump has once again sharpened his criticism of India on trade, calling it the “most tariffed nation” in the world and reiterating that New Delhi had offered to remove tariffs altogether — something he credited to his tough tariff-driven strategy. Comparing India to China and Brazil, Trump said these countries “kill” the US with their trade barriers.
In an interview on The Scott Jennings Radio Show, Trump declared:
“China kills us with tariffs, India kills us with tariffs, Brazil kills us with tariffs. India was the most highly tariffed nation in the world. You know what, they’ve offered me no tariffs in India anymore. If I didn’t have tariffs, they would never make that offer. So you have to have tariffs.”
He claimed tariffs had given the United States “tremendous negotiating power.”
For weeks now, Trump has been repeating this “no-tariff” claim, which he has tied directly to his aggressive trade policy. On social media, he has described US trade with India as a “totally one-sided disaster,” alleging that India exports massive volumes to America while absorbing relatively little US goods in return.
Flashpoint in India-US Trade Ties
Strains in India-US relations deepened after Trump imposed a 25% duty on Indian goods, which he later doubled to 50%, citing New Delhi’s decision to continue importing Russian oil. India has strongly rejected Trump’s demand to halt energy imports from Moscow, insisting that it makes decisions based on market conditions and national interest.
India’s Position: Talks Underway
Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal has maintained that trade talks remain in progress, with both sides continuing negotiations. Goyal expressed optimism that a bilateral trade agreement (BTA) could be finalised by November, acknowledging that “a little bit” of geopolitical issues had complicated the discussions.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also reiterated that India will not compromise on protecting farmers, fishermen, and the dairy sector in trade negotiations. “For us, the interest of our farmers is the top priority,” Modi said.
New Delhi has also dismissed Trump’s repeated criticism of its Russian oil imports, underscoring that purchases are based on affordability and energy security considerations.
Trump’s Trade Examples and Domestic Pushback
Trump has frequently used the case of Harley-Davidson motorcycles to highlight what he calls unfair Indian trade practices, pointing to the earlier 200% import duty that forced the American company to set up local production in India just to survive in the market.
But Trump’s tariff-first strategy has drawn criticism within the US as well. Economists and lawmakers have argued that such duties may ultimately hurt American consumers and manufacturers more than they help.
Former US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan went further, accusing Trump of damaging Washington’s long-term strategic ties with India while prioritising short-term commercial benefits and courting Pakistan.