Friends, Foes, and Fees: Trump’s Trade Tussle with India and China Starts April 2

US President Donald Trump declared reciprocal tariffs on India, China, and other nations to be effective from April 2, 2025. Delivering his speech to the Joint Session of Congress, Trump deplored the excessive tariffs levied by these countries as "very unfair" to the US. He particularly cited India's auto tariffs of over 100% and China's tariffs being double US rates. Trump stressed that the new policy would be reciprocal, saying, "Whatever they tax us, we will tax them". This is despite recent optimism for trade concessions after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the US.

 

Source: The Indian Express, CNBC TV18, The Tribune India