Nobody can argue with me: Trump on tariff talks with PM
US President Donald Trump has said he made it clear to Prime Minister Narendra Modi that India will not be spared from Washington’s reciprocal tariffs, emphasising that “nobody can argue with me” on tariff structure.
Trump made these remarks during an interview with during an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity. The transcript of the episode has been put out on the White House website. The channel aired the interview with Trump and billionaire Elon Musk on Tuesday night.
During the interview, Trump reiterated his stance on existing tariff structures between the US and its partners, including India.
“I told PM Modi ‘Here’s what we’re going to do: reciprocal. Whatever you charge, I’m charging,’” Trump said.
“He (Modi) goes, ‘No, no, I don’t like that.’ ‘No, no, whatever you charge, I’m going to charge.’ I’m doing that with every country,” Trump said.
India has very strong tariffs on certain imports from the US. Like in the automobile sector, India charges 100 per cent.
Under the reciprocal tariff system, the US would impose the same level of tariffs on Indian imports as India does on American goods.
Sources in India stated that India-US trade continues at existing customs duties and levies, as a formal notification on new tariffs is yet to be issued. Once the US finalises the notification, the tariff levels on both sides will become clear.
Trump also criticised a $21 million grant allocated to India for boosting voter turnout, questioning the necessity of such funding.
“Why are we giving $21 million to India? They have a lot more money. They are one of the highest taxing countries in the world in terms of us; we can hardly get in there because their tariffs are so high. I have a lot of respect for India and their PM, but giving $21 million for voter turnout? In India? What about voter turnout here?” Trump said at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida.
