New Delhi: US President Donald Trump has claimed that India is prepared to remove all tariffs on American imports but added that he was “in no rush” to make a deal. In an exclusive interview with Fox News on Friday, Trump said that New Delhi has offered to cut “100%” of tariffs on goods from the United States.
“India wants… you know, they’re one of the highest tariff nations in the world. They make it almost impossible to do business. Do you know that they’re willing to cut 100 per cent of their tariffs for the United States?” Trump said during the interview.
Trump’s remarks came amid ongoing trade negotiations between the two countries. India has been aiming to secure a favourable agreement during a 90-day suspension of tariff hikes announced by Trump on April 9, which included a 26 per cent duty on Indian goods. However, while Trump has framed India’s offer as a breakthrough, Indian officials have struck a more cautious tone.
‘Talks still ongoing’
Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday said the negotiations remain complex and no agreement has been finalised. “These are very complicated negotiations, they are very intricate, and nothing is decided till everything is,” Jaishankar told reporters. “Any trade deal has to be mutually beneficial; it has to work for both countries. Until that is done, any judgment on it would be premature.”
The Union government, according to reports, has offered to narrow its tariff gap with the US from the current 13 per cent to less than 4 per cent, hoping to gain exemptions from existing and upcoming US tariffs.
‘I’m in no rush’
Despite touting the apparent offer from India, Trump made it clear that he was not in a hurry to sign a trade agreement. “That’ll come soon. I’m in no rush. Look, everybody wants to make a deal with us,” he said.
Trump further added that over 150 countries are seeking trade deals with the US, but hinted that his administration would be selective. “Look, everybody wants to make a deal with this. South Korea. South Korea wants to make a deal with everybody. But I’m not going to make deals with everybody. I’m just going to set the limit. I’ll make another. Some deals. But. And then I’m just. Because I can’t. You can’t meet with that many people. I’ve got 150 countries that want to make deals. You know, you have a lot of countries,” he said.
