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‘Going to send tariff letters to countries from Friday’: Trump amid India-US trade talks

Trump has announced a number of trade deals, including with Vietnam and China, and had said late last month that the US and India “may” sign an agreement that will “open up India”.

US President Donald Trump speaks with reporters on Friday. (Photo: AP)

As India and the US are yet to announce the much-awaited interim trade deal, American President Donald Trump Thursday said Washington would begin sending letters that will have reciprocal tariff rates for each country starting Friday.

“My inclination is to send a letter out and say what tariffs countries are going to pay. We have more than 170 countries. And how many deals can you make? And you can make good deals, but they’re very much more complicated,” Trump said.

“I’d rather just do a simple deal where you can maintain it and control it. You’re going to pay a 20 per cent or 30 per cent tariff, and we’re going to be sending some letters out, starting probably tomorrow, maybe 10 a day, to various countries, saying what they’re going to pay to do business with the US,” he added.

Also Read | Vietnam trade pact has multiple takeaways, a clear China red-flag & some pointers for the impending India-US deal

Trump has announced a number of trade deals, including with Vietnam and China, and had said late last month that the US and India “may” sign an agreement that will “open up India”.

The US had announced steep tariffs on several Asian countries, including 36 per cent on Thailand and 32 per cent on Indonesia. Trump announced that the trade deal with Japan had hit a roadblock and had announced 24 per cent duty on Japan.

Reciprocal tariffs of 25 per cent were imposed on South Korea, 24 per cent on Malaysia, and 20 per cent on the European Union. Notably, Trump announced 32 per cent tariffs on Taiwan, a crucial key chip manufacturing centre.

Ravi Dutta Mishra

Ravi Dutta Mishra is a Principal Correspondent with The Indian Express, specializing in economic policy and financial regulations. With over five years of experience in business journalism, he provides critical coverage of the frameworks that govern India's commercial landscape. Expertise & Focus Areas: Mishra’s reporting concentrates on the intersection of government policy and market operations. His core beats include: Trade & Commerce: Analysis of India's import-export trends, trade agreements, and commercial policies. Banking & Finance: Covering regulatory changes and policy decisions affecting the banking sector. Professional Experience: Prior to joining The Indian Express, Mishra built a robust portfolio working with some of India's leading financial news organizations. His background includes tenures at: Mint CNBC-TV18 This diverse experience across both print and broadcast media has equipped him with a holistic understanding of financial storytelling and news cycles. Find all stories by Ravi Dutta Mishra here ... Read More