US Looking At Full Removal Of Trade Barriers With India, Says Donald Trump

The United States is pushing for a complete removal of trade barriers with India as part of the ongoing negotiations for a bilateral trade agreement, US President Donald Trump said on Friday.

"Right now, it’s restricted. You can’t walk in there. You can’t even think about it,” Trump said, referring to doing business in India. "We’re looking to get a full trade barrier dropping, which is unthinkable," he added.

Trump’s comments came during a press conference where he also hinted at wider global tariff plans and trade realignments, while suggesting that a breakthrough with India was close. "I'm not sure that that's going to happen, but as of this moment, we've agreed to that go into Indian trade," he said, without specifying details of any official deal.

The remarks come amid ongoing India-US bilateral trade discussions, with India's incoming Commerce Secretary and chief negotiator for the deal Rajesh Agrawal currently in the US for what is expected to be the final round of talks before a mini or interim trade deal is announced before July 9.

July 9 is significant in India–US trade relations because it marks the end of a 90-day tariff suspension window that was agreed upon by both countries earlier this year as part of ongoing efforts to finalise a limited bilateral trade agreement.

“Over the next week and a half or so, we’re going to send out a letter. We’ve talked to many countries. We’re just going to tell them what they have to pay,” he said. He also hinted at future engagement with China, but noted that trade with India remains a key priority.