Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: US President Donald Trump on Tuesday claimed that India is preparing to significantly reduce tariffs on American goods, ahead of what he has branded as “Liberation Day” — a day when he is set to unveil a sweeping new trade policy aimed at retaliating against what he calls unfair global trade practices.
Speaking during a press conference at the White House, Trump said, “I think I heard that India just a little while ago is going to be dropping its tariffs very substantially — and I said, why didn’t somebody do this a long time ago?”
His remarks come amid rising anticipation surrounding a fresh round of US-imposed tariffs set to be announced on April 2. The move is widely seen as a major escalation in Trump’s trade agenda during his second presidential term.
India Among Nations Named For ‘Unfair’ Trade Practices
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt backed the President’s claims, naming India as one of the nations that impose high tariffs, particularly on US agricultural exports.
“India has a 100% tariff on American agricultural products, which makes it virtually impossible for our goods to access their markets,” Leavitt said at the briefing, asserting that such barriers have long disadvantaged American farmers and exporters.
“These countries have been ripping off our nation for far too long,” she added, promising that Trump’s forthcoming measures will mark a decisive push for trade reciprocity.
She also pointed to trade friction with the European Union, Japan, and Canada, suggesting they too may face new levies.
Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’ Set For April 2
The tariff announcement, dubbed “Liberation Day” by President Trump, is scheduled for Wednesday and will be delivered in his first Rose Garden press conference since the beginning of his second term. The President is expected to be joined by his full cabinet for the high-profile unveiling.
Though the final details of the tariff package remain under wraps, officials indicated it would address both tariff and non-tariff barriers impacting US trade globally.
“The President will be announcing a tariff plan that will roll back the unfair trade practices that have been ripping off our country for decades,” said Leavitt. “He’s doing this in the best interest of the American worker.”
This latest development has sparked concern among several global economies, with analysts warning of potential retaliatory actions if Trump’s tariffs target a wide range of sectors or countries.
