Donald Trump leaves door open for trade deal with India as he presses for more

TOI correspondent from Washington: US President Donald Trump left the door open for a trade deal with India, claiming New Delhi had agreed to zero tariffs, even as his MAGA supporters took aim at the services sector that has been spared so far because it is a more even playing field.

In remarks at the White House on Tuesday and in a call-in to a radio jock subsequently, Trump kept up his incessant complaints about New Delhi's excessive tariffs on US imports while characterising India as a friend who is "killing us" with tariffs.


Asserting that weaponising tariffs is what has enabled him to sign trade deals with EU and Japan, Trump said he "can sign with India" a similar deal, indicating that channels are still open with New Delhi and he is pressing for a better offer.

Knowledgeable sources on both sides have told TNN that several times in the past few weeks, negotiating teams believed they have concluded an agreement, only for the US team to return to the table because it has not met Trump's expectations. A Congressional staffer tracking the issue said even the negotiating teams were frustrated with the stalling talks but no one has the courage to tell the President he should accept what is on the table and warn him of the strategic costs of alienating allies and partners.

Trump also lashed out the Federal Appeals Court that ruled the tariffs are illegal while kicking the can to the Supreme Court by not enforcing its ruling. He said it was a "stupid ruling," and claimed foreign companies and foreign interests are involved in the lawsuit.

Twice in the past three days Trump has claimed India had offered zero tariffs without offering any details. India has said its farm/agricultural sector is off bounds while making some exceptions for fruits and nuts. Indicating that that he expects an even better offer from India, Trump, in a bid to hurry things along before US importers pass on tariff cost to customers, warned, "it’s getting late" (for India to conclude a deal).