Donald Trump has again criticized the trade relationship between the United States and India, describing it as "very one-sided" and a "disaster". He pointed to what he considers to be high tariffs imposed by India on American goods, which he believes have hindered U.S. businesses from selling their products in the Indian market.

In a recent post on Truth Social, Trump stated that India "sell[s] us massive amounts of goods" while the U.S. sells "very little" to them. He also claimed that India had offered to cut its tariffs to zero, but added that it was "getting late" and that they "should have done so years ago". However, it remains unclear when this offer was purportedly made. New Delhi has not yet commented on Trump's remarks.

Trump's comments come against a backdrop of increasing trade tensions between the two countries. The U.S. recently imposed tariffs as high as 50% on goods from India. These tariffs, among the highest announced by the Trump administration, have been criticized for potentially harming ties with India, which has long been seen as a strategic partner and ally in the region. The tariffs affect an estimated $48-$87 billion worth of goods, particularly impacting labor-intensive sectors such as textiles, gems and jewellery, footwear, shrimp, and leather goods. Some sectors, like pharmaceuticals and electronics, were largely exempt.

One of the major points of contention has been India's continued purchase of Russian oil. U.S. officials have stated that these purchases are funding Russia's war in Ukraine, leading to the imposition of secondary duties on India. Trump's trade advisor, Peter Navarro, has been particularly critical, accusing India of running a "profiteering scheme" by importing Russian oil.

Despite the tensions, India has maintained that it will not "bow down" to the U.S.. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has stated that New Delhi will "neither bow down nor ever appear weak" in its economic relationships with other countries. India has also defended its purchase of Russian oil as being in its national interest.

Despite the recent imposition of tariffs, India and the U.S. are reportedly still engaged in discussions regarding a potential bilateral trade agreement. However, progress on such a deal is contingent on resolving the tariff issues and addressing other points of contention.

Some experts have challenged Trump's characterization of the trade relationship as "one-sided". According to an analysis by the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI), the U.S. actually enjoys a $35–40 billion surplus when all earnings are considered. This surplus takes into account the significant benefits the U.S. derives from tech, finance, and education sectors in India.

The current state of U.S.-India trade relations is complex and fraught with challenges. While negotiations continue, the path forward remains uncertain.