Trump complains of Indian tax on Harleys, mimics ‘ beautiful’ Modi

Washington, Feb. 27: Miffed with the high import duty imposed by India on Harley- Davidson motorbikes, US President Donald Trump on Tuesday yet again raked up the issue and imitated Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the process. Only this time he did it sans the Indian accent.

High import duty on Harley- Davidson bikes has been a sore spot for the US President. Addressing a gathering of governors of all the states at the White House, Mr Trump pushed for fair trade deals and said that when an American company sends a motorcycle to India, they have to pay tax, but the US gets “zero” when it imports Indian motorcycles.

Referring to a recent conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Mr Trump told the governors, “Now, the Prime Minister, who I think is a fantastic man, called me the other day and said we are lowering it to 50 per cent. I said okay, but so far we’re getting nothing.”

President Trump then went on to imitate Mr Modi by folding his hands and taking on a soft and serious tone. “He said it beautifully, he is a beautiful man and he said I just want to inform you that we have reduced it to 75 and we have further reduced it to 50. And I further said, huh, what do I say? Am I supposed to be thrilled?… He gets 50 ( per cent), and they think we’re doing — like they’re doing us a favour. That’s not a favour.”

“And that’s not good for you people, especially as governors. It’s just not right. And we have many deals like that,” Mr Trump added.

Earlier in January, US media reported that Mr Trump is known to affect an Indian accent and imitate Prime Minister Modi.

The US, he further said, wants fair and reciprocal trade deals, but it got “zero” when it bought an Indian motorcycle.

He is a beautiful man and he said I just want to inform you that we have reduced it to 75 and we have further reduced it to 50. And I said, huh... Am I supposed to be thrilled? — Donald Trump, US President