News Desk : India has firmly dismissed US President Donald Trump’s assertion that it offered to eliminate all tariffs on American goods, clarifying that trade negotiations remain unresolved.
External Minister S Jaishankar, in a statement to local news agencies today, emphasized that “nothing is decided till everything is,” countering Trump’s earlier claim in Doha where he told reporters, “Delhi has offered us a deal where they are willing to charge us literally no tariffs”, reports BBC
The US and India are in the midst of negotiating a trade agreement, with urgency heightened by Trump’s April tariffs of up to 27% on Indian goods and a 90-day pause on further increases, set to expire on July 9.
Jaishankar stressed that any deal must be mutually beneficial, stating, “That’s our expectation from the trade deal. Until that happens, any judgment would be premature.” His remarks underscore India’s cautious approach amidst high-stakes talks.
Trump made the comments at a Doha event with business leaders, where he also announced US-Qatar deals, including Boeing jet purchases.
Discussing Apple’s shift of iPhone production to India—confirmed in a recent earnings call alongside Vietnam’s role for iPads and Apple Watches—Trump claimed he had dissuaded CEO Tim Cook from building in India, citing its high tariffs. “I told Tim, we’ve tolerated your China plants for years; we’re not interested in India taking over,” he said.
The US, until recently India’s top trading partner with $190 billion (£143 billion) in bilateral trade, faces a $45 billion trade deficit with India—a gap Trump is keen to close.
India has already reduced tariffs on US bourbon, motorcycles, and other goods, while recent US-China trade adjustments saw tariffs drop to 30% from 145% on Chinese imports, and Chinese tariffs on some US goods to 10% from 125%.
As India navigates this complex trade landscape, including recent pacts with the UK and EFTA, Jaishankar’s rebuttal signals Delhi’s intent to prioritise national interests in any US deal.
Source: BBC
