Economy

Trump said that India has proposed reducing US tariffs, but the US is not in a hurry to finalize a deal.

Published On Sat, 17 May 2025
Anaya Bhargava
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President Donald Trump stated that India has offered to eliminate all tariffs on American goods but indicated there is no rush to finalize a trade agreement with the world’s fourth-largest economy. Speaking in an interview with Fox News host Bret Baier, which aired Friday, Trump pointed to India as an example of a country where he aims to reduce barriers to US exports.

“They make it nearly impossible to do business. Did you know they’re willing to cut 100% of their tariffs for the United States?” Trump said. However, the president gave mixed messages about the timing of a deal, saying, “that’ll come soon. I’m in no rush. Look, everybody wants to make a deal with us.” He also added that he doesn’t plan to “make deals with everybody.”

These comments suggest that while Trump intends to finalize trade deals with some countries before a pause on higher import duties expires in July, many nations will likely face unilateral US decisions on tariff rates. Earlier on Friday, Trump mentioned plans to announce new import duty rates for trading partners within the next two to three weeks.

The Trump administration is focusing trade negotiations on several countries, including India, but limited resources make it impossible to conduct simultaneous talks with all the nations involved in the president’s reciprocal tariffs strategy. Trump also hinted at expanding trade with Pakistan, India’s rival, a factor he previously mentioned in efforts to broker peace between the two countries earlier this month.

“I’m using trade to settle scores and make peace,” Trump said. The US has also worked to ease trade tensions with China, which Trump described as a generous gesture to the world’s second-largest economy. Following recent talks, the US reduced its tariff rate on China from 145% to 30%, while China cut its tariffs from 125% to 10%, with both countries planning further discussions. “If I hadn’t made that deal with China, I think China would have fallen apart,” Trump added.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from Bloomberg.