Donald Trump, the former US President, has once again targeted India’s trade policies and warned that he will impose a new wave of India Tariffs if he returns to office. Speaking at a campaign rally in Florida. Trump criticised what he described as unfair trade practices by countries like India, China and Mexico. He claimed that previous US administrations allowed these countries to take advantage of the US economy. Promising to reverse it completely.
Trump accused India of charging “tremendous” tariffs on US products and using restrictive measures against American companies. He explained that he imposed tariffs on India during his presidency to rebalance trade and bring back manufacturing jobs to the US.
India in Trump Crosshairs Again
This is not the first time India has been targeted in Trump campaign rhetoric. During his presidency, he removed India from the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP), ending duty-free access to certain Indian goods. The trade tension between the two countries has flared multiple times over India tariffs on items like medical devices, almonds and Harley-Davidson motorcycles.
Trump also repeated his old line about how “India sends things in but we get nothing out,” claiming the trade deficit hurts American workers. While India has reduced some tariffs over the years, Trump maintains it is not enough.
Experts Warn of Possible Trade Strain
Trade analysts believe that if Trump returns to power and follows through on his warning, Indo-US trade relations could face fresh uncertainty. India is currently one of the US’s top trading partners. And any disruptions could affect multiple sectors including pharmaceuticals, textiles, and tech services.
However, some believe this may be more of a political move to energise his voter base than a fully thought-out policy. The final outcome would depend on broader diplomatic strategies and whether the US seeks closer ties with India to counter China’s influence.
