NEW DELHI TOLD TO WITHDRAW TARIFFS
Trump says will speak to Modi about ‘unacceptable’ duties
UNITED States President Donald Trump yesterday demanded India withdraw retaliatory tariffs imposed by New Delhi this month, calling the duties “unacceptable” in a stern message that signals trade ties between the two countries are fast deteriorating.
India slapped higher duties on 28 US products after the country withdrew tariff-free entry for certain Indian goods. Washington is
also upset with New Delhi’s plans to restrict cross-border data flows and impose stricter rules on e-commerce that hurt US firms operating in India.
“I look forward to speaking with Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi about the fact that India, for years having put very high tariffs against the US, just recently increased the tariffs even further. This is unacceptable and the tariffs must be withdrawn!”
Trump will meet Modi at this week’s G20 summit in Japan.
Government sources rejected Trump’s argument, saying Indian tariffs were not that high compared with other developing countries and US tariffs on some items were much higher.
Trump’s tweet came hours after US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo left India.
Pompeo had said the nations were “friends who can help each other all around the world” but in one tweet, though, Trump may have badly undermined Pompeo’s efforts.