India was “most tariffed nation”: Trump doubles down on claim of tariff-free offer from New Delhi

Former US President Donald Trump has once again targeted India over trade, calling it the “most tariffed nation” and claiming New Delhi had offered to eliminate all duties on American goods. Speaking on a radio show, Trump alleged that countries like China, India and Brazil were “killing” the US with tariffs.

“China kills us with tariffs, India kills us with tariffs, Brazil kills us with tariffs. India was the most highly tariffed nation in the world, and you know what, they’ve offered me no tariffs in India anymore,” Trump said, adding that such an offer would never have come without his aggressive tariff strategy. He maintained that tariffs gave the US “tremendous negotiating power.”

The Republican leader has repeated this claim multiple times in recent weeks, even describing trade with India as a “totally one-sided disaster.” He has often cited examples such as Harley-Davidson facing a 200 per cent duty in India to highlight what he calls unfair trade practices.

India, however, has maintained that negotiations with Washington are ongoing. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal recently said efforts were underway to resolve differences and expressed hope of finalising a bilateral trade agreement by November. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also stressed that India would never compromise on protecting the interests of its farmers, fishermen and dairy sector. Officials in New Delhi have dismissed Trump’s criticism of Russian oil imports, emphasising that energy purchases are based on market considerations