‘They wouldn’t have done this for anybody else’: Trump claims India agreed to drop tariff to ‘nothing’

US President Donald Trump

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday claimed that India has agreed to drop tariffs on American imports to “nothing”, asserting that the choice was made solely due to him.“In India, as an example, is one of the highest tariffs in the world. We’re not going to put up with that and they’ve agreed already to drop it,” Trump instructed reporters on the White House throughout a media interplay alongside Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.“They’ll drop it to nothing. They’ve already agreed. They wouldn’t have done this for anybody else but me.”Trump, nonetheless, supplied no particulars on the sectors or items affected by the supposed settlement. India has, nonetheless, not formally made any statements in this regard as commerce talks with the US stay underway.

A conditional proposal

Sources conversant in the continuing negotiations instructed Bloomberg that India has proposed a zero-for-zero tariff association on particular items comparable to metal, auto components, and prescription drugs, however with a cap on import volumes and primarily based on mutual reciprocity. If imports exceed agreed thresholds, customary duties could be reinstated.The proposal was reportedly offered throughout a high-level go to to Washington final month, as either side intention to fast-track a restricted commerce settlement earlier than Trump’s self-imposed 90-day suspension on new reciprocal tariffs expires.

Quality issues and regulatory obstacles

The US has additionally raised issues about India’s Quality Control Orders (QCOs), which mandate technical requirements for merchandise offered within the nation. American officers argue these laws have hindered US exports and lack transparency.Indian authorities have signaled openness to reviewing QCOs in sectors comparable to medical gadgets and chemical substances. They have additionally proposed a mutual recognition settlement to streamline regulatory compliance for each nations, although the inclusion of such provisions in a last deal stays unsure.