US President Donald Trump has once again criticised India’s trade policies, describing the bilateral economic relationship as ‘one-sided for many years’ and singling out high tariffs as a major barrier to American exports.
Speaking on Monday, Trump emphasised that while ties between Washington and New Delhi remain cordial, India’s tariffs continue to disadvantage US businesses.
He argued that successive US administrations had failed to address the imbalance, allowing Indian goods wider access to the American market without equivalent opportunities for American exporters.
“India was charging us tremendous tariffs, some of the highest in the world,” Trump remarked, pointing to cases where US exports, particularly in agriculture and motor vehicles, faced significant restrictions.
Harley-Davidson as an Example
The president once more cited Harley-Davidson motorcycles as an example of what he sees as unfair trade barriers. He noted that the iconic American brand faced a 200 per cent tariff when attempting to sell in India, which ultimately forced the company to establish a local plant in Haryana.
Despite the move, Harley-Davidson shut down its Indian operations in 2020 after weak sales.
India later reduced duties on imported motorcycles from 50 per cent to a range of 30–40 per cent, a decision welcomed in Washington but still considered insufficient by the Trump administration.
Although Trump insists India’s tariffs rank among the highest globally, data from the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and World Bank show that while India maintains steep levies in select sectors such as agriculture, it does not lead the world in overall tariff levels.
New Delhi has consistently defended its position, citing the need to safeguard farmers and domestic industries.
The renewed criticism comes against the backdrop of strained trade talks.
In August, Washington escalated the dispute by imposing 25 per cent tariffs on Indian imports, later raising them to 50 per cent following India’s purchase of Russian oil. The move has complicated ongoing negotiations, leaving uncertainty over the future of economic ties between the two nations.
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