US President Donald Trump announced a series of new import tariffs on Wednesday, imposing a 26% tariff on India while criticizing trade imbalances. Despite calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi a “great friend,” Trump asserted that India was not treating the US fairly, citing a 52% tariff on American goods.
Speaking at the Make America Wealthy Again event, Trump declared, “India is very, very tough. The Prime Minister just left and is a great friend of mine, but you are not treating us right. They charge us 52 percent, and we charge them almost nothing.”
Trump announced tariffs on several countries, with China facing a 34% tariff, the European Union 20%, Vietnam 46%, Taiwan 32%, Japan 24%, and the United Kingdom 10%. India’s tariff was set at 26%, with other notable figures including Bangladesh (37%), Pakistan (29%), Sri Lanka (44%), and Israel (17%).
Additionally, Trump declared a 25% tariff on all foreign-made automobiles, citing the need to protect US industries and national security. He blamed previous administrations for failing to act, stating, “Such horrendous imbalances have devastated our industrial base and put our national security at risk.”
Trump framed the move as a historic shift in US trade policy, vowing to end what he described as decades of economic exploitation.
“In a few moments, I will sign a historic executive order instituting reciprocal tariffs on countries throughout the world. This is one of the most important days in American history—it is our Declaration of Economic Independence,” Trump proclaimed.
He emphasized that the US would no longer allow other nations to “get rich and powerful” at its expense, adding, “Our country and its taxpayers have been ripped off for more than 50 years, but it is not going to happen anymore.”
The White House confirmed on Tuesday that the new tariffs would take effect immediately.