Trump Says US Trade Stance With India Remains Unchanged After Supreme Court Ruling on Tariffs :
Prime Vista News
US President Donald Trump says America’s tariff policy toward India remains unchanged despite a Supreme Court ruling on sweeping tariffs, describing his relationship with Prime Minister Narendra Modi as “fantastic” and reaffirming that a trade deal with India is in place.
Washington, DC:
United States President Donald Trump has asserted that there will be no change in Washington’s trade posture toward India, following a recent Supreme Court ruling concerning the administration’s sweeping tariff framework. Speaking to reporters, Trump maintained that the existing trade arrangement continues to favour the United States and reiterated that an agreement with India remains firmly in place.
Stressing that the “India deal is on,” Trump described his relationship with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as “fantastic,” while repeating long-standing claims regarding tariffs and bilateral trade dynamics between the two countries.
“Nothing changes. They’ll be paying tariffs and we will not be paying tariffs,” Trump said. “We are not paying tariffs to them, and they are. We did a little flip.”
Tariff Policy ‘Unchanged,’ Says Trump
Trump’s remarks came amid questions about whether a recent US Supreme Court ruling on broad tariff authorities could affect America’s trade relationships. According to Trump, the decision has no bearing on the existing arrangements with India.
He claimed that prior trade terms were disadvantageous to the United States and credited his administration with renegotiating the balance. Without citing specific figures or provisions, Trump said the current framework ensures that tariffs are paid by India rather than by American exporters.
“Prime Minister Modi is a great man,” Trump said. “He was much smarter than the people he was against in terms of the US. He was ripping us off. So we made a deal with India.”
While Trump did not provide further details on the structure or scope of the agreement, he emphasised that the outcome represented a reversal of what he described as an unfair trade relationship.
Praise for Modi and Bilateral Relations
Trump repeatedly highlighted his personal rapport with Prime Minister Modi, describing bilateral ties as strong and productive.
“My relationship with India is fantastic, and we are doing trade with India,” he said, underscoring what he portrayed as mutual cooperation between the two governments.
The US president has often framed diplomatic engagements in personal terms, and his comments once again reflected that approach. Trump did not, however, indicate whether any new negotiations or revisions to existing trade agreements were currently underway.
Claims on India’s Energy Imports From Russia
In addition to trade, Trump also addressed India’s energy ties with Russia, claiming that New Delhi reduced its oil imports from Moscow following his request.
“India was getting its oil from Russia, and they pulled way back on my request,” Trump said, adding that the move was linked to efforts to end what he described as a “horrible war” causing significant loss of life each month.
Trump did not provide independent verification or official data to support the claim, and no additional details were offered regarding the scale or timing of the alleged reduction in imports.
Remarks on Regional Diplomacy and South Asia
Trump also made broader assertions about his role in regional diplomacy in South Asia, including claims related to tensions between India and Pakistan.
“My relationship with Prime Minister Modi is great,” he said. “I also stopped the war between India and Pakistan.”
According to Trump, tariff threats were used as leverage to encourage de-escalation between the two countries. He claimed that both sides reconsidered their positions after being warned of steep trade penalties with the United States.
“I said, ‘You want to fight, that is fine, but you are not going to do business with the United States, and you are going to pay a 200% tariff,’” Trump stated.
He further claimed that leaders from both sides subsequently contacted Washington to indicate that peace had been restored. Trump cited comments by Pakistan’s prime minister, asserting that his intervention saved millions of lives, though no independent confirmation of those statements was provided.
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Context and Reaction
Trump’s remarks come at a time when global trade policies, tariffs, and geopolitical alignments continue to face close scrutiny. While the US Supreme Court ruling has prompted questions about the durability of sweeping tariff measures, Trump’s statements suggest that, at least politically, the administration intends to project continuity and firmness in its trade stance.
Indian officials have not publicly responded to Trump’s latest comments, and no official clarification has been issued regarding the specifics of tariff obligations mentioned by the US president.
Outlook
Despite the strong language used by Trump, analysts note that trade relations between India and the United States are shaped by complex negotiations, regulatory frameworks, and multilateral considerations that extend beyond political rhetoric.
For now, Trump’s message appears aimed at reinforcing his administration’s narrative of assertive trade policy, personal diplomacy, and strategic leverage particularly with key partners such as India.
