US President Donald Trump on Monday renewed his attack on India’s trade policy, saying New Delhi’s offer to "cut their tariffs to nothing" is overdue by years, though it would not undo what he has called decades of unfair practice.
In a post on Truth Social, the Republican president argued that India had long treated the United States as its biggest customer while keeping American exporters out through what he described as the highest tariffs in the world.
"They have now offered to cut their Tariffs to nothing, but it’s getting late. They should have done so years ago. Just some simple facts for people to ponder," his post read.
Additionally, Trump argued that India had long imposed “the highest tariffs of any country” on US exports, effectively shutting American firms out of the market.
"The reason is that India has charged us, until now, such high Tariffs, the most of any country, that our businesses are unable to sell into India. It has been a totally one sided disaster," he wrote.
Trump also criticised India’s energy and defense ties with Russia, saying New Delhi “buys most of its oil and military products from Russia, very little from the U.S.”
His comments come amid heightened friction between Washington and New Delhi over tariffs and India's energy trade with Russia, which the Trump administration has repeatedly held accountable for the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine.
Earlier in the day, Trump's senior Trade Advisor Peter Navarro ruffled a considerable number of feathers on social media and across India's political spectrum. "“I want Indians to understand what is going on. Brahmins are profiteering by buying Russian oil at the expense of the Indian people," Navarro said, in what has been perceived by many as a casteist jibe.
He has also claimed that Indian refiners buy discounted Russian crude, process it and sell the finished products at a premium abroad.
“India is nothing but a laundromat for the Kremlin.” He claimed Indian refiners buy discounted Russian crude, process it and sell the finished products at a premium abroad. “What happened? Well, the Russian refiners went in and got into bed with big oil India. Putin gives (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi a discount on the crude. They refine it and they ship it to Europe, Africa and Asia at a big premium and they make a ton of money,” Trump's top aide said on Fox News.
He tied the profits to the conflict in Ukraine. “It kills Ukrainians,” Navarro said. “And what do we have to do as taxpayers? We’ve got to send them more money,” he added.
Source Name : Economic Times