Trump warns 'good friend' India over tariffs
US President Donald Trump has warned that India could face tariffs of up to 25% on its imports to the country if it does not comply with American demands in ongoing trade negotiations. Speaking at a White House event on Friday, Trump described India as a "good friend" but said that high tariffs and trade barriers imposed by certain countries were "unacceptable". He did not specify which Indian imports would be subject to additional tariffs or if any specific products would be affected more than others.
Indian officials have declined to comment on Trump's latest statement. An official from the Indian government stated that "India engages with the US on a regular basis at both formal and informal levels" and that "departments concerned of both countries regularly interact and are in touch". The official added that "India would like to resolve its issues through dialogue".
Trump's comments come as US and Indian trade officials are set to meet
The comments also come as US and Indian trade officials are set to meet in the coming weeks, with hopes of reaching an agreement on a range of issues, including tariffs and intellectual property. The scheduled talks are part of the US-India Trade Policy Forum, which was established in 2009 but has not met since October 2018.
