Donald Trump claimed that India has “offered” to reduce its tariffs to zero, but suggested the move has come too late. He also criticized India for buying most of its oil and defense supplies from Russia instead of the United States.
In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump wrote:
“What few people understand is that we do very little business with India, but they do a tremendous amount of business with us. They sell us massive amounts of goods, but we sell them very little. For decades, it has been a totally one-sided relationship because India imposed extremely high tariffs — the highest in the world. Our companies simply couldn’t compete. Meanwhile, India buys most of its oil and military equipment from Russia, hardly any from us. They have now offered to cut tariffs to nothing, but it’s getting late. This should have happened years ago.”
India Pushes Back on U.S. Pressure
Trump’s comments come just after the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, where member nations sent a clear message against U.S. tariffs and “pressure politics.”
India has consistently defended its decision to buy discounted Russian oil despite Washington’s objections. New Delhi has argued that it will purchase energy “from wherever it gets the best deal,” prioritizing national interests. Indian officials have also accused Western countries of double standards, pointing out that both Europe and China continue to import oil and gas from Russia.
Tariff War Deepens
During Trump’s presidency, Washington imposed a 25% reciprocal tariff on Indian goods, followed by another 25% levy tied to India’s Russian oil purchases. Together, these penalties increased India’s total tariff exposure to 50%, one of the steepest in the world.
New Delhi called the U.S. action “unjustified and unreasonable,” warning that it would take “all necessary steps” to protect its economic security.
$48 Billion at Risk
The impact on India’s export sector could be severe. A Commerce Ministry report estimated that $48 billion worth of exports are under threat, with key industries like textiles, jewelry, and shrimp likely to be hit hardest.
India has branded the U.S. decision “unfair” and is already scouting for alternative markets to minimize the damage.