'We Do Very Little Business...': Trump Claims India 'Offered' Zero Tariffs For US Goods

Last Updated:September 01, 2025, 21:18 IST

US President Donald Trump claimed that New Delhi "offered" to cut its tariffs on American goods to "nothing", and it is his country that is India's biggest "client" for business

Trade deal talks between India and US hit a roadblock after New Delhi refused to open up its agricultural and dairy sectors. (Image: Reuters/File)

Amid an intensifying tariff tussle between India and the United States, President Donald Trump made a startling claim about the now-stalled trade deal negotiations between the two countries.

Trump claimed that New Delhi “offered" to cut its tariffs on American goods to “nothing", elaborating his remarks by saying India does “very little business" with the US and it is, in fact, his country that is India’s biggest “client".

He said India buys most of its oil and military products from Russia and little from the US. “What few people understand is that we do very little business with India, but they do a tremendous amount of business with us," he said in a post on Truth Social.

The President said India sells to the US, its biggest “client", “massive" amounts of goods, “but we sell them very little – Until now a totally one sided relationship, and it has been for many decades". He reiterated his stand that India has charged the US “high tariffs, the most of any country, that our businesses are unable to sell into India".

“It has been a totally one sided disaster! Also, India buys most of its oil and military products from Russia, very little from the US. They have now offered to cut their Tariffs to nothing, but it’s getting late. They should have done so years ago. Just some simple facts for people to ponder!!!" he said.

According to data available, in 2024-25, the bilateral trade between India and US stood at USD 131.8 billion (USD 86.5 billion exports and USD 45.3 billion imports). Trade deal talks between the two countries hit a roadblock after India refused to open up its agricultural and dairy sectors.

Trump’s comments come as Prime Minister Narendra Modi held bilateral talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin.

The Trump administration has imposed 25 percent reciprocal tariffs on India and an additional 25 percent levies for Delhi’s purchases of Russian oil, bringing the total duties imposed on India to 50 percent, among the highest in the world.

Modi has asserted he cannot compromise on the interests of farmers, cattle-rearers, small-scale industries, cautioning “pressure on us may increase, but we will bear it". India has called the tariffs imposed by the US “unjustified and unreasonable".

New Delhi said, like any major economy, it will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security. Speaking at a recent event in Delhi, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar said India has certain “red lines" in its negotiations for a trade deal with the US and it will stand firm in protecting the interests of farmers and small producers.

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The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d...

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First Published:

September 01, 2025, 21:18 IST

News world 'We Do Very Little Business...': Trump Claims India 'Offered' Zero Tariffs For US Goods

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