U.S. President Donald Trump addressed the U.S.-India relationship, declaring that while the two nations now “get along very well,” India’s historically high tariffs made the partnership “one-sided” for decades. Speaking at the White House, Trump responded to questions about potentially easing the steep tariffs his administration imposed on Indian goods, which currently stand at 50%—among the highest levied on any country—partly as punishment for India’s purchases of Russian oil.

Trump highlighted that India previously imposed “tremendous tariffs, about the highest in the world,” which he claimed stifled U.S. businesses’ ability to export to India. “They were pouring their products into our country because we weren’t charging them, foolishly,” Trump said, arguing that this imbalance prevented American manufacturing from thriving. He cited the example of Harley-Davidson, noting that India’s 200% tariff on motorcycles forced the company to build a plant in India to avoid the duties, a move he suggested was detrimental to U.S. interests.

The President’s remarks come amid strained U.S.-India trade relations, exacerbated by his administration’s decision to impose a 25% reciprocal tariff and an additional 25% penalty linked to India’s Russian oil imports. Trump acknowledged India’s recent offer to reduce tariffs to zero but dismissed it as “too late,” claiming the country should have acted years ago. Despite the tensions, he emphasized that the bilateral relationship has improved under his leadership, moving away from its previously lopsided nature.

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India, a key U.S. trading partner with $87.3 billion in exports to the U.S. in 2024, has pushed back, with officials calling the tariffs “unfair” and defending their oil purchases as essential for energy security. As trade talks falter, the ongoing tariff dispute threatens to disrupt a strategic partnership critical for countering China’s regional influence, with both nations navigating a delicate balance between cooperation and economic friction.

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