Hours after the US slapped India with 25 per cent tariffs alongside an unspecified “penalty” for its imports from Russia, President Donald Trump hit out at New Delhi and Moscow over their trade and ties, saying the two countries could “take their dead economies down together”.
He took to his Truth Social handle and in a post wrote, “I don’t care what India does with Russia. They can take their dead economies down together, for all I care. We have done very little business with India; their Tariffs are too high, among the highest in the World. Likewise, Russia and the USA do almost no business together.”
He then issued a warning to former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to “watch his words” and avoid entering “very dangerous territory”.
“Let’s keep it that way, and tell Medvedev, the failed former President of Russia, who thinks he’s still President, to watch his words. He’s entering very dangerous territory,” he added.
Trump’s latest bombshell comes a day after he announced a 25 per cent tariff on Indian goods, effective August 1, citing high trade barriers and the purchase of military equipment and energy from Russia.
The US president said that India’s own protectionist policies over the years and excessively high tariffs forced America to do “relatively little business with them” and hindered the trade between the two countries.
“Remember, while India is our friend, we have, over the years, done relatively little business with them because their Tariffs are far too high, among the highest in the World, and they have the most strenuous and obnoxious non-monetary Trade Barriers of any Country,” he wrote in a post on his Truth Social handle.
Story continues below this ad
“Also, they have always bought a vast majority of their military equipment from Russia, and are Russia’s largest buyer of ENERGY, along with China, at a time when everyone wants Russia to STOP THE KILLING IN UKRAINE — ALL THINGS NOT GOOD!” he added.
India’s response to Trump
India, in its initial response to Trump’s announcement, said that it had “taken note” of the statement and underlined its continued commitment to a fair bilateral trade agreement with the United States. The government also pointed out that negotiations between the two countries had been underway for several months.
“The Government has taken note of a statement by the US President on bilateral trade. The Government is studying its implications. India and the US have been engaged in negotiations on concluding a fair, balanced and mutually beneficial bilateral trade agreement over the last few months. We remain committed to that objective,” the Ministry said in a statement issued Wednesday evening.
Highlighting that the government places the “utmost importance on protecting and promoting the welfare of” farmers, entrepreneurs, and MSMEs, the Ministry also drew a parallel to the recent trade agreement signed with the UK.
Story continues below this ad
“The Government will take all steps necessary to secure our national interest, as has been the case with other trade agreements, including the latest Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement with the UK,” the statement added.
The United States and India have been discussing a trade deal for months, but no final agreement has been reached. Trump has been pressing for greater access for American goods to the Indian market. He has often made similar demands in other trade negotiations.