Trump Claims India Has Offered To Remove All Tariffs On US Goods
India was among the first nations to begin formal trade talks with the US following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the White House
US President Donald Trump on Thursday claimed on Thursday that India has offered to eliminate all tariffs on American goods. However, he provided no further details about the offer.
Speaking at an event with business leaders in Qatar, Trump said that India had “offered us a deal where basically they are willing to literally charge us no tariff.”
India was among the first nations to begin formal trade talks with the US following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the White House in February. Both sides had agreed to work towards concluding the first phase of a bilateral trade agreement by autumn. India’s trade minister is expected to visit the US between 17 and 20 May to continue the negotiations.
Trump’s remarks were made during a conversation with Apple Inc. CEO Tim Cook, in which the President addressed the company’s investment and expansion plans in India.
“I said to him, my friend, I am treating you very well. You're bringing in $500 billion, but now I hear you’re building all over India. I don’t want you building in India,” Trump said, recounting his exchange with Cook.
The US President added that he told the Apple chief, “India can take care of themselves — they’re doing very well.”
Following their discussion, Trump said Apple would be increasing its production capacity within the United States.
His comments came just days after India proposed to impose retaliatory tariffs in response to the US raising import duties on steel and aluminium — signalling that New Delhi may be preparing to take a firmer stance in ongoing trade negotiations with Washington.
