Trump hints at 20-25% tariff on India

United States President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he may hit India with a tariff rate of 20% to 25%, however, he added that nothing has been finalised yet, reported Bloomberg. This comes as both the countries are in between negotiations before Trump’s August 1 deadline to impose tariffs. When asked whether 20%-25% was a potential tariff rate for India, Trump told reporters, “I think so”. The US President also called India a “good friend”, however, he reiterated that India levies more tariffs on the US than “almost any other country.

#WATCH | When asked if India is going to pay high tariffs, between 20-25%, US President Donald Trump says, "Yeah, I think so. India is my friend. They ended the war with Pakistan at my request...The deal with India is not finalised. India has been a good friend, but India has… pic.twitter.com/IYxParZqce

— ANI (@ANI) July 29, 2025

India is racing to secure a trade deal with the United States as the August 1 deadline approaches, with officials from both nations engaging continuously in negotiations. However, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer told CNBC on Monday that negotiations with India may take more time.The four-day discussions failed to resolve persistent disputes over agriculture, automobiles and — in what has emerged as a potentially new domain — digital trade, policies that have stalled negotiations since March, leaving India’s fate uncertain as the deadline looms.