(Jan 7): US President Donald Trump said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was unhappy with him due to Washington’s high tariffs on the South Asian nation, the latest sign of continued strain between the two countries.
“I have a very good relationship with him, but he is not that happy with me because they are paying a lot of tariffs,” Trump told a gathering of Republicans in Washington on Tuesday, adding that India’s buying of Russian oil “has reduced substantially”.
Trump imposed tariffs of 50% on Indian exports — the highest rate in Asia — in August, in part over India’s purchases of Russian oil following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. The tariffs have soured ties between the longtime partners and remain in place despite multiple rounds of trade talks and four conversations between the two leaders that have yet to produce a bilateral trade deal.
The latest comments add to the mixed signals Trump has offered on ties with India. On Sunday, he told reporters that Modi knew he was “not happy,” and “we can raise tariffs on them very quickly, and it would be very bad for them”.
New Delhi has been in negotiations with Washington since March over a trade deal, which Indian officials have said they are eager to conclude. But Trump has sent mixed messages about the prospect of a deal, and has signalled that Washington could even impose new tariffs on Indian rice.
The tariffs have pummelled India’s labour-intensive export sectors, including textiles, gems and jewelery and leather, and pushed the Modi government to announce relief measures worth US$5 billion for exporters.
See also: China’s feud with Japan worsens as Tokyo slams export controls
Trump has also angered New Delhi with his repeated claims that he brokered a ceasefire between India and Pakistan during a four-day armed conflict in May, which India has denied.
Separately, Trump also said in his Tuesday remarks that India flagged delays in the delivery of Apache helicopters, saying New Delhi has been waiting five years for the aircraft.
“I had India coming to me saying we have been waiting five years,” he said. “We are changing it. India ordered 68 Apaches and Prime Minister Modi came to see me.”
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