Trump Reaffirms Reciprocal Tariff Policy Against High Import Duties Imposed by India
US President-elect Donald Trump has reiterated his commitment to implementing reciprocal tariffs in response to what he described as “high tariffs” imposed by India on American imports.
“Reciprocal. If they tax us, we tax them the same amount. They tax us, we tax them. And they tax us. In almost all cases, they’re taxing us while we haven’t been taxing them,” Trump stated during a press briefing on Monday.
Trump made the remarks while addressing a question about a potential trade agreement with China. He highlighted India and Brazil as examples of countries imposing steep duties on certain US goods, signaling his administration’s intention to address such trade imbalances.
“The word ‘reciprocal’ is crucial,” Trump emphasized. “If India imposes a 100% or 200% tariff, why should we charge them nothing for the same product? For instance, if they export a bicycle and we export a bicycle, and they charge us exorbitant tariffs, we’ll do the same. India charges a lot. Brazil charges a lot. If they want to tax us, that’s fine—but they should expect the same treatment.”
Trump’s nominee for Commerce Secretary, Howard Lutnick, echoed this stance, stressing the importance of reciprocity in trade. “How you treat us is how you should expect to be treated,” Lutnick remarked, underscoring the administration’s commitment to fair and balanced trade policies.
The statement highlights Trump’s broader agenda to reassess trade relationships and implement policies that ensure equitable treatment for US exports in global markets.
