India’s trade policies make it ‘difficult or costly’ for US companies, says White House

The White House has criticized India’s trade policies, calling its certification and testing requirements “uniquely burdensome” and a major hurdle for American companies looking to sell their products in the country. The statement was released as part of a fact sheet following President Donald Trump’s announcement of sweeping reciprocal tariffs on April 2.

Trump’s new tariffs, dubbed the “Liberation Day” tariffs, include a 26% levy on Indian goods entering the United States. This, he argued, is a response to India’s 52% tariff on American products, which he labeled as unfair. Speaking at the Rose Garden, Trump acknowledged Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a “great friend” but insisted that India’s trade policies have been “very, very tough” on American businesses.

The White House fact sheet highlighted key sectors such as chemicals, telecom products, and medical devices, where India’s stringent certification requirements reportedly increase costs and create difficulties for US exporters. It further stated that removing these barriers could boost US exports to India by at least $5.3 billion annually.

Trump’s tariff policy extends beyond India, targeting multiple countries, including China, the European Union, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan. He claimed that non-market policies from China had led to a loss of 3.7 million US jobs between 2001 and 2018, significantly contributing to the trade deficit.

During his speech, Trump displayed a comparative tariff chart, showing how the US imposes only a 2.5% tariff on passenger vehicle imports, while India imposes a 70% duty and the European Union levies 10%. He argued that such disparities have allowed foreign countries to “loot” and “cripple” American industries for decades.

April 2, 2025, has been declared “Liberation Day” by Trump, who described it as a historic moment for American economic sovereignty. “This is Liberation Day,” he declared. “April 2, 2025, will forever be remembered as the day American industry was reborn, the day America's destiny was reclaimed, and the day that we began to make America wealthy again.”