I believe India will cut tariffs substantially on U.S. goods, says Trump

President Trump believes India will lower tariffs on American goods, threatening reciprocal tariffs starting April 2.

U.S. President Donald Trump has said that he believes India will lower its tariffs on American goods, even as he reiterated his threat to impose reciprocal tariffs on the country starting April 2.

In an interview with Breitbart News, an American news, opinion, and commentary website, Mr. Trump discussed the U.S.’s relationship with India.

Asked about his summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi last month, Mr. Trump said he has a “very good relationship” with India. "But the only problem I have with India is they are one of the highest tariffing nations in the world,” the website quoted Mr. Trump as saying. “I believe they’re... probably going to be lowering those tariffs substantially, but on April 2, we will be charging them the same tariffs they charge us.”

Asked about the India-Middle East-Europe-Economic Corridor (IMEC) project, Mr. Trump, without mentioning China in particular, said it was a “group of wonderful nations” banding together “countering other countries that look to hurt us on trade.” “We have a powerful group of partners in trade,” he said. The U.S. is a signatory to the deal to establish IMEC.

“Again, we can’t let those partners treat us badly, however. We do better in many ways frankly with our foes than we do with our friends," Mr. Trump was quoted as saying by the website. "The ones that wouldn’t be as friendly to us in some cases treat us better than the ones that are supposed to be friendly, like the European Union, which treats us terribly on trade," Mr. Trump said.

"India and everybody would think of them as an ally. I can say the same for others. But this is a group of wonderful nations that is countering other countries that look to hurt us on trade," he added.

Earlier this month, Mr. Trump said India had agreed to cut its tariffs “way down” as he reiterated his claim that the country charges America massive tariffs that make it difficult to sell products there.