Trump Signals Readiness to Implement Reciprocal Tariffs on India: “Preparing to Move Forward”

Ahead of his bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, US President Donald Trump announced that his administration would soon impose reciprocal tariffs on countries like India and China. Speaking at the swearing-in of Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Trump emphasized that the policy would ensure fairness in trade. “We’re getting ready to do it,” he said, explaining that the approach would involve charging the same tariffs as those imposed by other nations, such as India and China. The President noted, “Whatever they charge, we charge them,” stressing the principle of reciprocity in trade relations.

Trump’s remarks reiterate his previous stance on trade with India. Last week, during a joint interview with Elon Musk, the President mentioned that he had informed Modi that India would not be exempt from the reciprocal tariffs. In the past, Trump has repeatedly criticized India for its high tariffs, calling the country a “tariff king.” In May 2019, he revoked India’s preferential market access under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP), accusing the country of not providing the US with “equitable and reasonable access to its markets.”