Monday 7 April 2025
India is the ‘Tariff King”: Trump
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US President Donald Trump has expressed concerns aboutElon Musk‘s plans to set up a Tesla manufacturing facility in India, by calling it “unfair” to the US amid trade disproportions. Trump’s concerns stem from existing trade disparities and India’s high import duties on American-made vehicles. The comment, made during a joint interview of Trump and Musk, which has come days after the Tesla CEO met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the latters visit to the US.
Donald Trump has once again claimed that India imposes high tariffs, a statement that was echoed by Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla. This isn’t the first time Trump has made this assertion, having previously described India as a “tariff king”- those charges “tremendously high” tariffs on US products. Reiterating his claim that every country took advantage of the US with tariffs, Trump began by citing the example of tariffs on cars in India.
Trump said Its impossible for Musk to sell cars, practically in India. “I dont know if thats true or not, but I think said Trump, and Musk completed his sentence by mentioning, The tariffs are like 100% import duty.
This highlights the significant trade barriers thatTeslafaces in the Indian market. The import duty on electric vehicles that cost at least $35,000 is 15 per cent in India, subject to conditions.
Trump added that if Musk wanted to build a factory in India, that was okay but also unfair to the US. Thats unfair to us. Its very unfair, he said.
Trump added, I told Prime Minister [Narendra]Modi Heres what you do. We are going to be very fair with you. Trump was cut off mid-sentence when asked if India’s tariffs were 36 per cent, to which he responded that they were “much, much higher.”
Musk chimed in, revealing that the tariffs on auto imports were actually a staggering 100 per cent. Musk has also agreed with Trump and said It needs to be at a level playing field and fair and square. Trump then claimed that the US would now make a lot of money and a lot of businesses would come pouring in.
Tesla, led by Musk, has taken significant steps towards establishing a presence in India, having already identified locations for showrooms in New Delhi and Mumbai, and posted job openings for 13 mid-level positions in the country.
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