US President Donald Trump has claimed that India has agreed to significantly lower its tariffs on American goods, attributing the move to his administration’s pressure. Speaking at the White House, Trump criticized India’s trade policies, calling them “restrictive,” but said they are now changing. “They have agreed to cut their tariffs way down now because somebody is finally exposing them for what they have done,” he said.
His remarks come as India’s Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal leads a delegation in the US to negotiate a bilateral trade agreement. The Indian government has remained tight-lipped about the ongoing discussions.
Meanwhile, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has pushed for a “grand deal” covering multiple sectors instead of negotiating product by product. Speaking at the India Today Conclave, Lutnick emphasized the need for India to open its agricultural market, arguing that it “just can’t stay closed.” The US has long sought greater access to India’s farm sector, particularly for American nuts, fruits, and poultry. While acknowledging India’s domestic sensitivities, Lutnick suggested introducing quotas and limits as a middle ground.
He also urged India to move away from purchasing defense equipment from Russia, a stance the US has repeatedly pushed in recent years. Additionally, he raised concerns over India’s role in BRICS, particularly Beijing’s proposal for a common currency, which Trump sees as an attempt to challenge the dominance of the US dollar.
On China, Lutnick justified high US tariffs on Chinese goods, citing opioid production concerns, and hinted at a broader set of tariffs to be discussed in April.
