Trump vows reciprocal taxes for India, again: 'If they tax us, we tax them the same'

Trump has repeatedly criticised India's high tariff policies, calling them among the steepest imposed by major nations.

US President-elect Donald Trump has reiterated his commitment to imposing reciprocal tariffs on nations like India and Brazil, accusing them of levying steep duties on American goods.

Speaking at a news conference at Mar-a-Lago on Monday, Trump stressed the need for fairness in trade and vowed to address what he described as long-standing imbalances.

"If they tax us, we tax them the same amount," Trump stated. He pointed to India's trade policies, "India charges us 100 or 200 percent on some products. If they send us a bicycle and we send them a bicycle, they tax ours heavily while we charge them nothing. That’s going to change," as per a PTI report.

Trump made the remarks during discussions about a likely trade agreement with China, where he highlighted similar challenges. Brazil was also singled out as a country with significant tariffs on US goods.

Howard Lutnick, Trump’s nominee for Commerce Secretary, echoed the President-elect’s stance. "Reciprocity will be a cornerstone of the Trump administration’s trade policy. How you treat us is how you should expect to be treated," Lutnick noted, states the PTI report.

Trump has repeatedly criticised India's high tariff policies, calling them among the steepest imposed by major nations. Early this October, in a speech in Detroit, he had pledged to introduce a "tit-for-tat" tax policy if re-elected, ensuring that countries imposing high fees on US goods face similar tariffs.

“Perhaps the most important element of my plan to make America extraordinarily wealthy again is reciprocity,” Trump said during the Detroit event. “China imposes tariffs of up to 200 percent on our goods, and India, in some cases, imposes even higher duties. That’s unacceptable,” he added, citing efforts during his first term to tackle trade imbalances.

Despite his critique of India’s tariffs, Trump has, however, praised Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling him a "great leader" and "a great man." Trump had remarked, "Modi has done a fantastic job bringing India together. But India’s tariffs are some of the highest - even higher than China’s in many ways. They charge with a smile, but it’s still a charge."

Trump’s critique of India’s trade practices is part of a broader strategy to recalibrate global trade dynamics in favour of the United States, underscoring his administration’s emphasis on reciprocity and equitable market access.