‘Very Very Powerful’: Trump Pronounces 26% Discounted Reciprocal Tariffs On India
US Reciprocal Tariffs: Describing India as “very, very powerful,” US President Donald Trump introduced a 26 per cent “discounted reciprocal tariff” on it, half of the 52 per cent levies imposed by New Delhi on American items.
Trump, who introduced reciprocal tariffs on international locations that impose levies on American items, mentioned on Wednesday that April 2, 2025, which he known as “Liberation Day,” will perpetually be remembered because the day American business was reborn and the day America’s future was reclaimed.
Whereas making remarks from the Rose Backyard on the White Home, the US President mentioned, “That is Liberation Day, a day we’ve been ready for a very long time. 2nd April 2025 will perpetually be remembered because the day American business was reborn, the day America’s future was reclaimed, and the day we started to make America rich once more, going to make it rich, good, and rich”.
In his almost hour-long remarks on Wednesday late afternoon within the Rose Backyard, Trump listed varied international locations from world wide and the tariffs they cost on US merchandise, saying, “For many years, our nation has been looted, pillaged, raped and plundered by nations close to and much, each pal and foe alike. American steelworkers, auto staff, farmers, and expert craftsmen… They actually suffered gravely. They watched in anguish as overseas leaders stole our jobs. International cheaters ransacked our factories, and overseas scavengers tore aside our once-beautiful American dream.”
Joined by manufacturing unit and automotive staff, in addition to members of his Cupboard within the viewers, Trump signed the “historic Govt Order” instituting carefully watched reciprocal tariffs on international locations all through the world. “Reciprocal. Which means they do it to us and we do it to them. Quite simple. Can’t get any easier than that,” Trump mentioned to applause from these gathered for the occasion.
“Let me supply only a few examples of the vicious assaults our staff have confronted for thus a few years. The US prices different international locations solely a 2.4 per cent tariff on bikes. In the meantime, Thailand and others cost a lot increased charges, like 60 per cent. India prices 70 per cent, Vietnam prices 75 per cent, and others are even increased than that.
“Likewise, till in the present day, america has for many years charged a 2.5 per cent tariff. Consider that—2.5 – 2.5 per cent on foreign-made cars. The European Union prices us greater than 10 per cent tariffs…. India prices 70 per cent and maybe worst of all are the non-monetary restrictions imposed by South Korea, Japan, and really many different nations,” he mentioned.
As he introduced the tariffs, Trump held up a chart that confirmed the tariffs that international locations equivalent to India, China, the European Union, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan levy on US merchandise and the reciprocal levies these international locations will now should pay.
The chart confirmed that India charged 52 p.c tariffs on the US, “together with foreign money manipulation and commerce boundaries,” and that America would now cost India “discounted reciprocal tariffs” of 26 p.c.
“India may be very, very powerful. Very, very powerful. The Prime Minister simply left. He is an excellent pal of mine, however I mentioned, ‘You are a pal of mine, however you’re not treating us proper.’ They cost us 52 per cent. You need to perceive, we charged them virtually nothing for years and years and many years, and it was solely seven years in the past after I got here in that we began with China and we took in tons of of billions of {dollars} from China in tariffs,” Trump mentioned.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Washington, DC, in February, lower than a month after Trump took the oath of workplace and commenced his second time period within the White Home as President.
Prior to now, he has known as India the “tariff king” and a “large abuser.” Throughout a joint press convention with Modi within the White Home on thirteenth February, Trump had mentioned that India has “been very sturdy on tariffs,” and “I don’t blame them, essentially, however it’s a special approach of doing enterprise. It’s very laborious to promote into India as a result of they’ve commerce boundaries and really sturdy tariffs.”
Trump had mentioned that the US commerce deficit with India is sort of USD 100 billion, and Modi and he agreed that “we’ll start negotiations to deal with the long-running disparities that ought to have been taken care of over the past 4 years—however they didn’t do this—within the US-India buying and selling relationship, with the purpose of signing an settlement. And we wish—actually, we wish a sure degree enjoying area, which we actually assume we’re entitled to, and he does additionally, in equity, so we’re going to work on that very laborious.”
(With PTI Inputs)
