The issue of steep US tariffs on Indian goods has returned to the spotlight in recent days after a series of remarks by US President Donald Trump.
In the latest of the series, Trump on Tuesday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi was “not that happy” with him over the imposition of steep tariffs on India. Trump made the remarks while speaking at the House GOP Member Retreat, a day after warning that the United States could raise tariffs on India “very quickly”.
Despite the friction, Trump said he continued to have a “very good relationship” with Modi. He referred to a recent meeting with the Indian leader and said India had begun reducing its imports of Russian crude. “Prime Minister Modi came to see me, ‘Sir, may I see you please’. Yes…I have a very good relationship with him. He’s not that happy with me because you know they are paying a lot of tariffs now because they’re not doing the oil, but they are, they have now reduced it very substantially, as you know, from Russia,” Trump posted.
India-US trade tensions
The comments come amid heightened trade tensions between the two countries. The Trump administration has imposed a cumulative 50% tariff on Indian goods, among the highest levied on any US trading partner. Of this, 25% is a reciprocal tariff, while the remaining 25% has been linked specifically to India’s continued purchases of Russian oil.
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, on Sunday said that Indian Ambassador to the United States Vinay Kwatra had informed him that New Delhi had cut back its Russian oil imports and asked him to convey the development to Trump in the hope that the tariffs could be eased. Graham also referred to his proposed legislation seeking to impose a 500 percent penalty on imports from countries that continue to buy Russian oil.
Apache helicopters delivery
Trump reiterated earlier remarks made aboard Air Force One, saying Modi “knew I was not happy” with India’s energy ties with Moscow. “They do trade and we can raise tariffs on them very quickly,” Trump said, adding that such a move would be “very bad” for India.
In a separate comment, Trump said India had raised concerns about delays in defence deliveries, particularly Apache attack helicopters. He said New Delhi had told him it had been waiting for five years for the aircraft and added that the issue was being addressed. Trump said India had placed an order for 68 Apache helicopters.