India Moves to Slash Tariffs on U.S. Goods

In a stunning shift aimed at avoiding economic retaliation, India is now preparing to make its most significant tariff cuts in years all to avoid the powerful economic punch that Donald Trump has waiting in the wings. Prime Minister Narendra Modi appears to be feeling the pressure as the former and likely next president sets his sights on countries that have long taken advantage of America’s lopsided trade policies.

According to reports, India is considering slashing tariffs on more than half of all U.S. imports, totaling roughly $23 billion worth of goods. The move comes just days before Trump’s reciprocal tariffs, scheduled to hit April 2, are set to go into effect. Unlike the current administration’s weak, reactive policies, Trump’s approach puts America’s interests first and it’s already making waves across the globe.

Here’s what’s on the table in India’s desperate bid to hold off Trump’s economic reckoning:

• Current tariffs range from 5% to a staggering 100+%, especially on critical U.S. exports like cars and machinery.

• India is unwilling to budge on certain protections namely meat, dairy, and wheat where tariffs still hover between 30% and 60%.

• However, India is reportedly open to substantially reducing or eliminating tariffs on machinery, pharmaceuticals, electrical equipment, and even mineral fuels.

This potential rollback is part of the first phase of an ongoing U.S.-India trade negotiation but make no mistake, this wouldn’t be happening under Joe Biden’s weak leadership. This is the Trump Effect. When a leader with backbone returns to the stage, the world listens.

India is panicked for good reason. Trump’s tariffs are targeted directly at nations that keep tariffs high on American goods while enjoying easy access to our markets. If imposed, these tariffs could impact 87% of India’s $66 billion in exports to the United States. And with the U.S. already running a $45 billion trade deficit with India, Trump is ready to level the playing field.

This is exactly the kind of leadership that puts America first standing up to global freeloaders instead of bowing to them. India may soon find that the days of milking the American economy are over.

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