Hours after PM Modi met China’s Xi and Russia’s Putin, President Trump on Monday criticised the trade relationship between the United States and India, calling it a “totally one-sided disaster” that has favoured New Delhi for decades
Hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi met China’s Xi Jinping and Russia’s Vladimir Putin, US President Donald Trump on Monday criticised the trade relationship between the United States and India, calling it a “totally one-sided disaster” that has favoured New Delhi for decades.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump claimed that while India sells large volumes of goods to the US, American companies have struggled to access the Indian market due to what he described as “the highest tariffs of any country.”
“What few people understand is that we do very little business with India, but they do a tremendous amount of business with us. In other words, they sell us massive amounts of goods, their biggest “client,” but we sell them very little – Until now a totally one sided relationship, and it has been for many decades. The reason is that India has charged us, until now, such high Tariffs, the most of any country, that our businesses are unable to sell into India. It has been a totally one sided disaster! ” he said.
Trump also took aim at India’s strategic partnerships, noting that the country continues to buy the majority of its oil and military equipment from Russia, not the US.
“Also, India buys most of its oil and military products from Russia, very little from the U.S. They have now offered to cut their Tariffs to nothing, but it’s getting late. They should have done so years ago. Just some simple facts for people to ponder!!!” he added.
Trump’s remarks come just days after his administration imposed a 50% tariff on Indian goods, citing New Delhi’s continued purchase of Russian oil despite US objections.
The move follows comments by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who said the high tariffs are not solely a response to India’s energy ties with Russia, but also reflect frustration over the prolonged and stalled trade negotiations between the two countries.
Adding to the pressure, Trump’s trade adviser Peter Navarro recently described the Russia-Ukraine conflict as “Modi’s war,” claiming that “the road to peace runs, at least partly, right through New Delhi.” He argued that “everybody in America loses because of what India is doing.”
India has responded by reiterating its commitment to strategic autonomy.
Indian Ambassador to Russia Vinay Kumar told Russia’s TASS news agency that Indian companies would “continue buying [oil] from wherever they get the best deal.”
New Delhi has also pointed out that countries like China and several in Europe continue to purchase discounted Russian oil, yet the US appears to be singling out India.
In response to the new tariffs, Russia has publicly supported India’s right to choose its trading partners and criticized Washington’s actions.
With inputs from agencies
End of Article