In a surprise announcement during a business roundtable in Qatar, US President Donald Trump claimed that India has offered to eliminate all tariffs on American goods.
The statement, which has not yet been confirmed by the Indian government, comes just ahead of Indian Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal’s high-level visit to Washington, beginning May 16, aimed at pushing forward ongoing trade negotiations.
“They’re willing to charge us no tariff—literally zero,” Trump said, referring to a potential trade breakthrough with New Delhi. However, he offered no specifics about the proposed deal, and Indian officials have yet to issue a response.
The comments mark a significant moment in US-India trade relations, particularly as both countries attempt to recalibrate their economic ties amid shifting global alliances and supply chains. Minister Goyal’s visit follows US Vice President JD Vance’s trip to India in April, during which American officials sought to de-escalate trade tensions and avoid reciprocal tariffs.
In a separate and equally contentious statement, Trump sharply criticized Apple’s growing operations in India. “Told Apple CEO Tim Cook we’re not interested in you building in India—they can take care of themselves,” Trump said, according to a Bloomberg report. He claimed Apple would now increase its domestic manufacturing presence instead. “He is building all over India. I don’t want you building in India,” Trump emphasized.
These remarks come amid growing concerns in India over Trump’s involvement in recent India-Pakistan tensions. Indian officials have denied his claim that a ceasefire was achieved through US intervention, a move some in New Delhi see as an overstep. Trump’s use of trade as diplomatic leverage has fueled speculation over the future of strategic ties between the two democracies.
Meanwhile, global trade watchers are assessing the fallout of the US-China tariff pause announced in early April. The White House recently unveiled a 90-day reset in trade relations with Beijing, which includes a suspension of most reciprocal tariffs—except those on China. The thaw has raised doubts over India’s role as a “China+1” manufacturing alternative, with experts warning that a reduced tariff gap could lure some companies back to China.
However, some Indian industry leaders believe the US will continue to seek manufacturing allies beyond China. “The US still needs a strategic hedge. India remains a key option,” said EEPC India chairman Pankaj Chadha.
Trade negotiations between India and the US are expected to intensify in the coming weeks. Sources suggest a scaled-down version of a Bilateral Trade Agreement could be concluded within 45 days, with a broader deal anticipated later in the year.
Just one day before Trump’s remarks, India formally notified the WTO of its plan to impose retaliatory tariffs on US products worth $7.6 billion. This move, made under global trade rules, targets Washington’s ongoing tariffs on Indian steel and aluminium, and could result in nearly $2 billion in new duty collections.
With rhetoric heating up and high-stakes meetings imminent, Trump’s remarks have cast a spotlight on the evolving dynamics of India-US trade—leaving many waiting to see whether bold words translate into real policy shifts.
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