Trump Believes India May Lower Tariffs On US, But Reiterates April 2 Deadline

The development comes just days after Trump made a similar claim regarding India's agreement to reduce tariffs on US, adding that "somebody is finally exposing them for what they've done."

US President Trump has expressed belief that India will lower tariffs imposed on US.

Source : PTI

US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that he believes India will likely lower the tariffs imposed on American goods, but reiterated the April 2 deadline. 

In an interview with Breitbart News on Wednesday, Trump said: "I believe they're going to probably going to be lowering those tariffs substantially, but on April 2, we will be charging them the same tariffs they charge us." 

President Trump has repeatedly emphasised the April 2 deadline ever since he announced retaliatory tariffs against several countries imposing high duties on American imports, including India.

In a post on Truth Social, a social media platform he owns, Trump referred to April 2 as "Liberation Day for America." Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also joined Truth Social.

The development comes just days after Trump made a similar claim regarding India's agreement to reduce tariffs, adding that "Somebody is finally exposing them for what they've done."

"India charges us massive tariffs. Massive. You can't even sell anything in India... But they have agreed, by the way; they want to cut their tariffs way down now because somebody is finally exposing them for what they've done," Trump said.

Previously, Trump had called India a "tariff king" and a "big abuser" during a White House press conference with Prime Minister Narendra Modi where he was discussing trade barriers and pointing out at the challenges of selling to India.

Following this, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt had slammed India during a press briefing, claiming that it imposes a 150 percent tariff on American alcohol and a 100 percent tariff on agricultural products.

"I have a handy-dandy chart here that shows not just Canada, but the tariffs across the board. If you look at Canada, since you brought it up, American cheese and butter face nearly a 300 percent tariff. You look at India, where there's a 150 percent tariff on American alcohol. Do you think that's helping Kentucky bourbon get exported to India? I don't think so. There's also a 100 percent tariff on agricultural products from India," she said.