'India Charges Highest Tariffs, But With A Smile': Trump Vows To Introduce Reciprocal Tariff If Elected

Trump also came up the subject of import taxes on Harley-Davidson motorbikes and his earlier presidential meeting with the company's executives.

File photo of Former U.S. President Donald Trump.

Source : PTI

US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, vowed to introduce a reciprocal tax if re-elected to power, claiming that India imposes the highest tariffs on foreign products with a smile. Trump emphasised that reciprocity is a key component of his plan to boost America's wealth, stating that the U.S. generally doesn't charge high tariffs, but many countries especially India impose heavy duties on American goods.

“Perhaps the most important element of my plan to make America extraordinarily wealthy again is reciprocity. It's a word that's very important in my plan because we generally don't charge tariffs. I started that process, it was so great, with the vans and the small trucks, etc,” Trump said in a major economic policy speech on Thursday, news agency PTI reported.

“We really don't charge. China will charge us a 200 per cent tariff. Brazil is a big charger. The biggest charger of all is India,” the Republican presidential candidate stated while softening the blow by praising Modi. “India is a very big charger. We have a great relationship with India. I did. And especially the leader, Modi. He's a great leader. Great man. Really is a great man. He's brought it together. He's done a great job,” U.S. President said.

“I mean, I think they probably charge more than, in many ways, China. But they do it with a smile. They do it... Sort of a nicer charge. They said thank you so much for purchasing from India,” Trump also said.

Trump brought up the subject of import taxes on Harley-Davidson motorbikes and his earlier presidential meeting with the company's executives. “I said how's business? Good, good. What are the bad countries? Well, India is very tough. And they gave me some others. Why? Tariffs. I said what are they? And they said like 150 per cent, some massive amount,” Trump said.

He remembered the business reps telling him that India wanted them to establish a plant there. Trump's comments on Thursday come after he praised Modi earlier this week, calling him "the nicest human being."

Trump On Modi's Visit To Houston

“Modi, India. He’s a friend of mine. He’s great. Before him, they were replacing them every year. It’s very unstable. He came over. He’s a friend of mine. But on the outside, he looks like he’s your father. He’s the nicest, but he’s a total killer,” he added.

Trump reminisced about Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Houston for the ‘Howdy Modi’ event during his presidency, describing it as a "beautiful" occasion, with "80,000 people going crazy." He noted that he had developed a "very good relationship" with Modi.

Trump also recalled moments when India faced threats, and he offered to assist, claiming he was well-equipped to deal with those situations. However, Modi firmly responded, saying, "I will do it. I will do it. And I would do anything necessary. We have defeated them for hundreds of years.' I said, 'Whoa, what just happened there'.”