Trump mocks Modi on Harley duty cut

Smita Sharma 

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 27

Days after a telephonic conversation, the first this year, between US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Modi, the Indian government continues to maintain silence about what was discussed. 

The White House, in its statement about the February 8 conversation, had said the two leaders discussed the situation in Afghanistan, Maldives, Myanmar and North Korea. The Indian side issued no statement. But since then Trump has slammed India twice for high import tariffs imposed on Harley Davidson motorcycles, alluding remarks to Modi in that conversation. 

(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)

India has slashed customs duty on imported high-end motorcycles from 75 to 50 per cent. But according to Trump, when informed of the same by PM Modi in a phone call, the President replied that it ‘meant nothing’.

Trump’s latest jibe comes at a White House gathering of Governors where he stressed he wants fair trade with countries like India and China. “Now, the PM, who I think is a fantastic man, called me the other day and said we are lowering it to 50 per cent. I said okay, but so far we’re getting nothing. So we get nothing. He gets 50 (per cent), and they think we’re doing — like they’re doing us a favour. That’s not a favour,” Trump can be heard saying in the video. In what sounds like a mockery of PM Modi’s delivery style, Trump further said, “I wasn't sure — he said it so beautifully. He's a beautiful man. And he said, 'I just want to inform you that we have reduced it to 75, but we have further reduced it to 50’. “And I said, huh. What do I say? Am I supposed to be thrilled?” 

However, despite repeated requests for clarity if more conversations have happened between the two leaders since February 8, the Ministry of External Affairs and the PMO have remained tightlipped. No answers have also been forthcoming to specific questions if the PM informed Trump of the duty cut.

On February 14, Trump, addressing Congress members, had mentioned the conversation referring to Modi as ‘a great gentleman from India’. He also threatened to raise import duty on Indian motorbikes entering the US market. He accused Harley Davidson was getting ripped off. “So when they have a motorbike — a big number, by the way — they have a company that does a lot of business. They have a motorcycle or a motorbike that comes into our country — the number is zero. We get zero. They get 100 per cent, brought down to 75; brought down, now, to 50. Okay,” Trump said.