Trump Slams India-U.S. Trade Ties as ‘One-Sided Disaster’ After Modi’s Visit to China
U.S. President Donald Trump has sharply criticized India over trade relations, calling the partnership “a totally one sided disaster” following Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit. Trump took to Truth Social on Monday, insisting that India had belatedly offered to slash tariffs to zero but argued it “should have been done years ago.”
The latest criticism comes against the backdrop of Washington’s recent decision to impose 50% tariffs on Indian exports, including secondary duties of 25% last month in response to New Delhi’s purchase of Russian oil. India has strongly opposed the move, labeling the tariffs as “unfair, unjustified and unreasonable.”
Trump also accused India of exploiting the U.S. by selling “massive amounts of goods” while keeping its market largely closed to American exporters. “India has charged us, until now, such high Tariffs, the most of any country, that our businesses are unable to sell into India,” he wrote, underscoring his claim that U.S. businesses have long faced a trade imbalance.
World Trade Organization data shows that in 2024, India imposed an average tariff of 6.2% on U.S. imports, compared to America’s 2.4% tariff on Indian goods. Despite reports earlier this year that New Delhi had floated a “zero-for-zero” tariff deal covering sectors like steel and pharmaceuticals, negotiations with Washington stalled, prompting Trump to escalate duties on Indian exports.
Meanwhile, Modi’s talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the SCO summit have raised concerns in Washington about India’s shifting alliances. Although U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent dismissed the meeting as “performative,” analysts say closer ties between New Delhi and Beijing could reshape global trade dynamics. Experts warn that Washington’s aggressive tariff stance risks pushing India further toward China at a time when U.S.-India relations are already under strain.
Source: cnbc