President-elect Donald Trump has reiterated his intention to impose retaliatory tariffs on countries such as India and Brazil in response to their high import taxes on American goods, according to PTI.
During a press conference on December 16, Trump remarked, “If they impose taxes on us, we will impose the same taxes on them. They tax us. We tax them. And they tax us. Almost in all cases, they’re taxing us, and we haven’t been taxing them.” He emphasized the importance of reciprocity in trade relations, particularly criticizing India’s 100% tariff on certain U.S. products.
Trump Targets India and Brazil with Threat of Reciprocal Tariffs
In a recent press conference, President-elect Donald Trump expressed his intention to impose reciprocal tariffs on countries like India and Brazil due to their high import taxes on American products. He emphasized that if these nations levy steep tariffs on U.S. goods, the United States will respond in kind.
Trump stated, “Reciprocal is the keyword. If they charge us—like India, which we don’t need to elaborate on—if India imposes a 100% tariff, should we charge them nothing in return? They send us a bicycle, and we send them a bicycle, but they tax us heavily while we don’t impose any charges.” He highlighted that both India and Brazil have significant tariffs, suggesting that if they want to impose high taxes, the U.S. will do the same.
These remarks came during discussions about potential trade agreements with China, where Trump pointed out similar challenges. His comments signal a tough stance on trade relations and a commitment to ensuring fair treatment for American businesses.
Trump’s Commerce Secretary Nominee Emphasizes Reciprocity in Trade
Howard Lutnick, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for Commerce Secretary, echoed Trump’s stance on trade, stating that “reciprocity” will be a central focus for the new administration. He told reporters, “How you treat us is how you should expect to be treated.” This reflects the administration’s intention to ensure that trade relationships are fair and balanced, particularly in light of high tariffs imposed by other countries.
On December 17, Kurt Campbell, the Deputy Secretary of State, addressed reporters in Washington, stating that the outgoing Biden administration is leaving the India-U.S. relationship in a robust position. He expressed optimism that this strong partnership would carry on under President Trump’s administration.
“We are confident that we will be handing over the bilateral relationship to the incoming Trump administration at its highest level, supported by key players from industry, technology, finance, and defense,” Campbell noted. He highlighted the inspiring collaboration between the United States and India in critical areas such as space exploration.
