US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Tuesday described India as “a bit recalcitrant” in ongoing trade negotiations, days after President Donald Trump imposed an additional 25 per cent tariff on Indian imports, citing New Delhi’s purchase of Russian oil.
Speaking to Fox Business Network’s Kudlow, Bessent noted that while substantial agreements had been reached with several major economies, key deals with India and Switzerland remained pending. He expressed optimism about potentially concluding tariff negotiations by October, though he acknowledged challenges in the process.
On August 6, Trump signed an Executive Order raising the total tariff on Indian imports to 50 per cent, citing national security, foreign policy concerns, and India’s continued oil trade with Russia as an “unusual and extraordinary threat” to the United States. The new tariffs will take effect on August 27.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs condemned the move as “unfair, unjustified and unreasonable” and vowed to take “all actions necessary to protect its national interests.”
The escalation follows Trump’s earlier announcement of a 25 per cent reciprocal tariff on India, effective August 7. The US President has made it clear that no trade negotiations will resume until the tariff dispute is resolved.
