Trump asserts India will drop tariffs to zero, a claim unconfirmed by Indian officials. This follows Treasury Secretary’s optimistic trade deal remarks and years of US-India trade friction
BY PC Bureau
Washington D.C., May 6 – U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday claimed that India has agreed to reduce its tariffs on American goods to zero, asserting that such a move was secured due to his own efforts.
“They’ve already agreed. They would have never done that for anybody else but me,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. He argued that India has “one of the highest tariffs in the world” and suggested that it has now committed to eliminating them entirely.
Despite Trump’s bold assertion, there has been no official confirmation from the Indian government regarding such an agreement.
Treasury Secretary Says Trade Talks Nearing Completion
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, speaking to reporters last month, said the Trump administration was “very close” to finalizing a trade deal with India. Bessent noted that negotiations were progressing smoothly, pointing to India’s high tariff rates as a key reason for leverage.
BIG: US President Trump says India has agreed to eliminate all tariffs on US goods!!
"They've already agreed. They would have never done that for anybody else but me…… We're going to put down some numbers and say our country is open for business" pic.twitter.com/iKUa3reYYm
— Megh Updates 🚨™ (@MeghUpdates) May 6, 2025
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“India, in a funny way, is easier to negotiate with than many other countries because they have very high tariffs and lots of them,” he said. He also referenced Vice President Vance’s recent trip to India, saying the visit yielded “very good progress” during meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Background: Longstanding Trade Tensions
India and the United States have experienced repeated tensions over trade in recent years. Trump has often criticized India’s tariff structure, calling it “unacceptable.” One notable flashpoint was the 25% tariff India imposed on Harley-Davidson motorcycles, which Trump repeatedly cited as unfair to American businesses.
In 2019, the Trump administration revoked India’s preferential trade status under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP), citing market access issues. In response, India imposed retaliatory tariffs on dozens of U.S. products, including almonds, apples, and walnuts.
On April 2, Trump announced a new 26% reciprocal tariff on Indian goods, part of a broader effort to pressure trade partners into reducing trade imbalances. However, he later announced a 90-day pause, providing temporary relief and an opportunity for negotiations.
While President Trump appears optimistic, the lack of a formal announcement from New Delhi leaves the future of the proposed tariff reductions unclear. Trade experts caution that domestic political factors and economic protectionism on both sides could delay any comprehensive deal.
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