Trump Makes Bold Claim via Truth Social
Former U.S. President Donald Trump asserted on Truth Social that India has offered to reduce tariffs on U.S. goods to zero. He described the U.S.–India trade relationship as previously “one‑sided” and opined that such a concession “should have been done years ago.”
Context: Tariff Retaliation Sparks Economic Strain
His remarks come amid escalating trade tensions: the U.S. imposed steep tariffs—up to 50%—on Indian goods, combining both a reciprocal tariff and targeted penalties over India’s sustained oil purchases from Russia.
Modi Abroad, Strategy Shifting
At the time of Trump’s statement, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was attending the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in China. There, he emphasized India’s ties with China and Russia, calling on India and China to see each other as “development partners, not rivals.”
Reaction? Radio Silence
The Indian Embassy in Washington has yet to respond to Trump’s claims publicly. The U.S. administration has also not issued an immediate comment.
Long Road to Resolution
Earlier in May 2025, Trump had similarly claimed India offered a trade deal with effectively “zero tariffs” on American exports—a promise echoing current remarks.
Despite this, trade talks collapsed in August due to disagreements, particularly over U.S. access to India’s agricultural and dairy markets, and India’s refusal to discontinue Russian oil imports.
Implications for U.S.–India Economic & Strategic Ties
Analysts warn that repeated clashes and punitive tariff tactics may undermine long-term strategic cooperation, even as India diversifies its alliances and reinforces regional partnerships beyond the West.
