'India abuser on tariffs; Modi fantastic man': Donald Trump

Donald Trump said he would meet PM Narendra Modi during the latter's visit to the United States.

Published on: Sep 18, 2024, 10:40:06 IST

By HT News Desk

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Former US President Donald Trump on Tuesday called India an "abuser" on the issue of import tariffs. However, he praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying he is a "fantastic man".

Former US President Donald Trump speaks during a town hall event at Dort Financial Center in Flint, Michigan, US, on Tuesday. (Bloomberg)

While campaigning in Michigan, the Republican presidential candidate said he would meet PM Modi during the latter's visit to the United States next week.

PM Modi will be visiting the US from September 21 to 23.

"So when India, which is a very big abuser. He (Modi) happens to be coming to meet me next week, and Modi, he's fantastic. I mean, fantastic man. A lot of these leaders are fantastic," Trump said, reiterating that India imposes heavy tariffs on imports.

Donald Trump said India is very tough. He also said, "These people are the sharpest people".

"They're not a little bit backwards...You know the expression, they're at the top of their game, and they use it against us. But India is very tough. Brazil is very tough ... China is the toughest of all, but we were taking care of China with the tariffs," he added.

Also read: ‘I will never surrender’, Donald Trump breaks silence after assassination bid

Donald Trump said if he wins the elections, the US would do what he called a reciprocal trade.

"If anybody charges us 10 cents, if they charge us USD 2, if they charge us a hundred per cent, 250, we charge them the same thing. And what's going to happen? Everything's going to disappear, and we're going to end up having free trade again. And if it doesn't disappear, we're going to take in a lot of money,” he added.

Trump was attending his first campaign event after the second assassination attempt on him in Florida.

PM Modi will begin his trip with the Quad Leaders' Summit. The summit will be attended by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of Australia and Prime Minister Kishida Fumio of Japan. It will be hosted by US Presient Joe Biden.

Modi will then travel to New York and address a mega community event in Long Island on September 22.

With inputs from PTI

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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