Trump Nears Major Trade Deal With India Amid Rising Tariffs on China

The Trump administration is closing in on a landmark trade deal with India, marking a pivotal shift in global trade alliances as the White House ramps up pressure on China with massive tariff hikes. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed Tuesday that negotiations with India are “very close,” signaling a major breakthrough with one of America’s most vital and fast-growing trade partners.

While the Biden administration bowed to China and handed out one-sided deals to foreign competitors, President Trump is doing what he does best securing real, tough, America-first agreements that benefit American workers.

India currently faces a 10% baseline tariff, part of Trump’s new “Liberation Day” tariff strategy that applies to dozens of foreign nations. But that rate could soar to 26% if a deal isn’t finalized within the 90-day pause Trump instituted earlier this month. China, on the other hand, wasn’t so lucky. It now faces a staggering 145% tariff on its exports to the U.S., while retaliating with 125% tariffs of its own a clear sign Trump isn’t playing softball with Beijing anymore.

At a White House briefing, Bessent noted the unique advantage of negotiating with India: “They have very high tariffs and lots of tariffs. So, it’s much easier to confront them head-on.” In other words, India’s transparency makes a fair deal far more achievable something that can’t be said about China’s murky trade practices and hidden protections.

Key developments in the Trump trade agenda include:

• Vice President JD Vance’s visit to India, where he and Prime Minister Narendra Modi finalized the “terms of reference” for a trade roadmap.

• Positive movement with Japan and South Korea, who, like India, are engaging seriously with the U.S. to finalize trade frameworks ahead of their national elections.

• Continued silence from China, as the regime struggles to justify its unsustainable tariff war with the U.S.

While the liberal press frets over “trade wars,” the reality is that Trump’s aggressive but calculated trade posture is forcing nations to the negotiating table on our terms. The Biden years saw American manufacturing decline and trade deficits explode, while adversaries like China ran circles around D.C. bureaucrats.

That era is over.

With new deals forming in Asia and America’s leverage at an all-time high, Trump is flipping the global trade map in our favor. This is what leadership looks like: making allies, keeping adversaries in check, and protecting the American worker with real, enforceable deals.

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