Washington DC (Rajeev Sharma): US President Donald Trump has sharpened his criticism of America’s trade relationship with India, describing it as “a totally one-sided disaster.” He asserted that New Delhi’s recent offer to eliminate tariffs on American goods might have come too late.
In a statement posted on his social media platform Monday, Trump claimed India, after years of imposing restrictive duties, is now willing to reduce tariffs to zero. Yet, he questioned the timing, remarking, “It’s getting late” for such a step.
The president argued that trade between the two nations remains imbalanced. “We do very little business with India, but they do a tremendous amount of business with us. They sell us massive amounts of goods, their biggest client, but we sell them very little. India buys most of its oil and military products from Russia, very little from the US. They have now offered to cut their tariffs to nothing, but it’s getting late. They should have done so years ago,” Trump said.
His remarks highlight the ongoing strain in US-India trade ties, where negotiations for a long-term agreement have often stalled. Recently, the US imposed a 50% tariff on several Indian imports, a move Trump justified as a response to what he sees as years of unfair trade practices.
Adding to tensions, Trump criticized India’s close trade links with Russia, particularly in oil and defense. His stance aligns with that of Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who last week cited India’s energy imports from Moscow and the slow pace of trade talks as reasons behind the new tariffs.
The Indian government has yet to formally respond to Trump’s claims. However, New Delhi has frequently rejected Washington’s tariff measures and questioned their legitimacy.
Criticism has also come from Trump’s former advisers. Peter Navarro, in a controversial remark, accused Indian refiners of taking advantage of discounted Russian crude, calling them “Brahmin oil profiteers.”
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has stepped up diplomatic outreach with visits to Japan and China, signaling efforts to reinforce regional partnerships and balance ties with Russia amid rising Western pressure.
As both nations navigate an uncertain economic and geopolitical climate, the path forward for US-India trade talks remains unclear, raising questions about whether recent moves will bring them closer to an agreement or deepen their divide.
