'Whatever You Charge, I’ll Charge': Trump Tells PM Modi On Reciprocal Tariffs On India, Reveals In Joint Interview With Elon Musk

In a joint televised interview with billionaire Elon Musk, US President Donald Trump reiterated his stance on imposing reciprocal tariffs on trade partners, including India, reported NDTV.

Speaking to Fox News’s Sean Hannity, President Trump emphasised that Washington would match any tariffs imposed by other countries in a move aimed at balancing global trade.

"I told Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi yesterday—he was here—I said, 'Here's what we're going to do: reciprocal. Whatever you charge, I'm charging,'" Trump said, recalling his conversation with the Indian leader. He further stated, "He (PM Modi) goes, 'No, no, I don't like that.' 'No, no, whatever you charge, I'm going to charge.' I'm doing that with every country.", NDTV quoted him as saying.

Sitting alongside Trump, Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk supported the criticism of India’s high import duties, particularly in the automobile sector.

"It's 100 per cent—auto imports are 100 per cent," Musk remarked, pointing out that the high tariffs make it extremely difficult for American car manufacturers to sell in India unless they establish manufacturing plants there. He described this policy as "unfair" to the US economy.

Trump underscored that under his proposed tariff structure, the US would impose the same level of duties on Indian imports as India levies on American goods.

"Nobody can argue with me," Trump insisted. "If I said 25 per cent, they'd say, 'Oh, that's terrible.' I don't say that anymore... because I say, 'Whatever they charge, we'll charge.' And you know what? They stop."

This is not the first time Trump has confronted India’s tariff policies. During his first term, he frequently labelled India as the "tariff king", citing high import duties on US goods.