Donald Trump has claimed that India has offered to cut its tariffs on US goods to zero. Trump made these statements on Monday, characterizing the trade relationship between the United States and India as a "one-sided disaster". He added that India should have made the offer to cut tariffs "years ago" and that "it's getting late" now.
Trump's statements follow recent data indicating a trade surplus in India's favor. In 2024, India's exports to the U.S. totaled $87.3 billion, while imports from the U.S. amounted to $41.5 billion. This resulted in a trade surplus of $45.8 billion for India. During the first six months of 2025, Indian exports to the US were $56.3 billion, while it imported goods worth $22.1 billion.
He also referenced India's procurement of oil and military equipment from Russia, a factor he has previously cited when imposing a 50% tariff on most Indian products. He originally cited crude oil as a reason for the 25% "penalty" portion of the 50% tariffs.
Trump's remarks come shortly after the U.S. Treasury Secretary raised concerns about the slow progress of trade deal discussions, adding to the existing tensions over India's oil imports from Russia.
As of now, there has been no immediate response from the Indian government to Trump's assertions.
