Donald Trump's 26% ‘reciprocal tariffs’ on India come into effect

President Donald Trump's sweeping 26% tariffs on India came into full effect on Wednesday morning.

Updated on: Apr 9, 2025, 12:14:52 IST

By HT News Desk

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US President Donald Trump's 26% tariffs on imports from India came into full effect on Wednesday morning. Donald Trump announced the reciprocal tariffs on April 3 in the Rose Garden of the White House as part of his ‘Liberation Day’ announcement event.

US President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on April 7, 2025. (AFP)

The US president had declared that the US would tax nearly all of America's trading partners at a minimum of 10% and impose steeper rates for countries that he says ran trade surpluses with the US.

Besides India, Trump announced 46% tariffs on Vietnam, 32% on Taiwan, 25% on South Korea, 24% on Japan and 20% on the European Union. He also announced a tariff of 34% on China which would come on top of 20% levies he imposed on the country earlier this year. Later, he threatened to add another 50% levy on Chinese goods in response to Beijing's recently promised retaliation.

During his April 3 announcement, Trump had called Prime Minister Narendra Modi ‘a great friend’ but added that the country was ‘not treating us right’.

Also Read | Will India retaliate against Donald Trump tariffs? Government official breaks silence on strategy

"Their Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) just left (US recently). He is a great friend of mine, but I said to him that 'you're a friend of mine, but you've not been treating us right'. India charges us 52%, so we will charge them half of that - 26%," he said.

In response, India said that it is carefully examining the implications of Trump’s announcement and studying the opportunities that may arise due to this development in the American trade policy.

The Union commerce ministry had said it was engaged with all stakeholders, including Indian industry and exporters, taking feedback on their assessment of the tariffs and assessing the situation keeping in view the vision of a developed India.

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HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

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