India has firmly rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s assertion that it agreed to eliminate tariffs on all American imports. Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar clarified that negotiations are still underway and no agreement has been finalized, contradicting Trump’s statement made during a business event in Doha.
Trump had claimed India offered a tariff-free deal for U.S. goods, citing conversations with Apple CEO Tim Cook and criticizing India’s high import duties. However, Indian officials emphasized that any trade agreement must be mutually beneficial and that premature conclusions are misleading.
The U.S. and India are currently negotiating a broader trade deal, with both sides aiming to reduce existing trade barriers. While India has already lowered tariffs on select U.S. goods, such as whiskey and motorcycles, major areas like agriculture remain off-limits for concessions.
Amid ongoing talks, Delhi has expressed a willingness to move toward a ‘zero for zero’ model, potentially eliminating tariffs on 90% of U.S. exports—excluding politically sensitive categories. Despite recent trade progress with other global partners, India remains cautious about finalizing any deal without guaranteed reciprocity and strategic balance.
With the U.S. remaining India’s top trading partner and a $45 billion trade deficit in play, the outcome of these negotiations could significantly shape future economic ties between the two nations.
