Trump Hopes India Will Ease Trade Barriers on U.S. Products

US President Donald Trump said he believes that India will lower the tariffs it imposes on US products.

"I think they're probably going to lower those tariffs considerably, but beginning April 2, we will put on the same tariffs they put on us," Trump said via Breitbart news.

Recently, Trump announced that retaliatory tariffs would take effect on April 2 against nations that impose high duties on American goods. This statement followed his claim that India had agreed to cut tariffs, saying, “Somebody is finally calling them out for what they’ve done."

India charges us extremely high tariffs on our goods—very high. It's practically impossible to sell anything in there… But they agreed to cut back enormously because somebody is finally holding them to account," he said.

Trump previously called India a "tariff king" and a "big abuser" in a news conference with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, citing the difficulties of conducting business in India. He also talked about the close to $100 billion trade deficit with India and announced plans for negotiations to address these trade issues.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt also targeted India in a press briefing, pointing out that the country charges a 150 percent tariff on American spirits and a 100 percent tariff on farm products.

"I have a handy-dandy chart here that shows tariffs not only from Canada, but across the board. For example, American cheese and butter are hit with almost a 300 percent tariff in Canada. And in India, there is a 150 percent tariff on American booze. Do you think that's facilitating Kentucky bourbon to be exported to India? I don't think so. They also charge a 100 percent tariff on farm products," she said