Amid escalating trade tensions between New Delhi and Washington, former U.S. President Donald Trump has once again criticized India's tariff policies, asserting that the country "kills" the U.S. with tariffs. Trump's remarks came during a radio show, where he also claimed that India has now offered "no tariffs".

Trump has long maintained that the trade relationship between the United States and India is one-sided, favoring India. He has frequently cited high tariff barriers as a major impediment for American companies seeking to compete in the Indian market. As an example, Trump has often referred to Harley Davidson motorcycles, pointing out that the company once faced a 200% tariff on its motorcycles in India. According to Trump, this led the company to build a manufacturing plant in India to circumvent the tariffs.

In August 2025, the U.S. imposed a 25% tariff on Indian goods, adding to an existing 25% levy, bringing the total tariff to 50% for key sectors such as textiles, leather, engineering goods, and chemicals. The second levy was reportedly tied to New Delhi's purchase of Russian crude oil. Trump has described India as the "most tariffed nation" in the world, insisting that his tariff strategy has compelled New Delhi to make concessions. He has also stated that India has offered to cut its tariffs to nothing, but it's "getting late".

However, Trump's decision to impose tariffs on India has faced criticism, even within American political circles. A U.S. appeals court recently ruled that his tariffs were "illegal". Additionally, Jake Sullivan, a former U.S. national security advisor, has accused Trump of undermining relations with India.

Despite the trade tensions, India and the U.S. have been engaged in negotiations for a trade agreement since March 2025. While a U.S. team was scheduled to visit India in August 2025 for the next round of talks, the visit was postponed following the imposition of the 50% duty on Indian goods. As of early September 2025, no new dates have been set for negotiations. India is also reportedly firm on protecting sensitive sectors like agriculture and dairy, which employ millions of workers and are politically sensitive. New Delhi is hesitant to grant tariff-free access to American companies in these sectors, which has been a sticking point in trade talks.

Amidst the ongoing trade disputes with the U.S., India is also strengthening ties with other partners, including Russia. Reports indicate that Moscow is offering discounts on oil prices to India and is planning to expedite deliveries of the S-400 missile defense system.