Trump Claims India Willing To Cut ‘100 Per Cent Tariffs’ On US Goods, But Says ‘No Rush’ For Trade Deal

US President Donald Trump has again claimed that India is ready to eliminate tariffs on American goods, asserting that a trade agreement between the two countries could materialise “soon,” Times of India reported.

In an interview with Fox News, Trump said, “They make it almost impossible to do business. Do you know that they're willing to cut 100 percent of their tariffs for the United States?”

Asked if a deal is close, he responded, “That'll come soon. I'm in no rush. Look, everybody wants to make a deal with us.”

He added, “South Korea wants to make a deal but I'm not going to make deals with everybody. I'm just going to set the limit. I'll make another some deals. Because I can't, you can't meet with that many people. I've got 150 countries that want to make deals.”

Trump reiterated his view that India is “one of the highest tariff nations in the world.”

Earlier on Thursday (15 May), External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar responded to the claims by Trump, saying, “These are complicated negotiations. Nothing is decided till everything is. Any trade deal has to be mutually beneficial; it has to work for both countries.”

He added, “That would be our expectation from the trade deal.”

Trade talks between India and the US are underway, with Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal currently in Washington for negotiations.

He is expected to meet US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.

India is pushing for tariff reductions on labour-intensive exports like textiles, gems and jewellery, leather goods, chemicals, bananas, and seafood.

The US, in turn, is seeking greater access for industrial goods, electric vehicles, wines, dairy products, apples, and nuts.