By Ira Deshpande
Former US President Donald Trump has once again taken aim at India over trade. He called India the “most tariffed nation” in the world and argued that the trade relationship between the two countries is highly unfair. According to him, India has long enjoyed benefits while American businesses have suffered.
Speaking on a radio show hosted by Scott Jennings, Trump said he understands tariffs better than anyone else. He complained that Indian duties on American products are so high that US companies can hardly compete in that market. In his words, the system is “killing” the United States.
Trump also claimed that India recently offered a “no tariff” deal. However, he dismissed the gesture as meaningless. He insisted that this offer came only after his administration imposed strong tariffs on Indian goods. Without those measures, he argued, New Delhi would never have even considered making such a proposal.
The former president described India as a major exporter to the US while purchasing very little in return. He called the trade setup a “one-sided disaster” that has gone on for years. Trump also accused India of relying heavily on Russia for oil and military supplies, instead of turning to the US.
His tough stance has not come without criticism. A US appeals court recently ruled that the 50% tariffs he placed on India were unlawful. Political opponents, including National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, have argued that Trump’s approach has weakened relations with New Delhi. Some even accuse him of favoring Pakistan’s interests over India’s.
Critics warn that such policies could send a troubling message to America’s allies. If countries like Germany and Japan start to doubt Washington’s reliability as a partner, they say, the US risks losing trust on the global stage.