Daijiworld Media Network - Washington

Washington, Mar 29: US President Donald Trump on Friday termed Indian tariffs as ‘brutal’ but remained optimistic about resolving trade differences between the two nations.

Speaking at a White House press conference, Trump acknowledged his strong rapport with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling him "a great friend" and "a very smart man." He expressed confidence that trade issues will be sorted out positively.

"It’s brutal… it’s brutal," he remarked about India's import duties but added, "I think it's going to work out very well between India and our country."

Trump is expected to announce reciprocal tariffs on April 2, aligning them with American import duties. However, he hinted at possible exemptions without specifying which nations might benefit.

The US trade deficit with India stood at $45.7 billion in 2024, marking a 5.4% increase from the previous year. Bilateral trade between the two countries reached $129.2 billion, with US exports to India at $41.8 billion and imports from India at $87.4 billion.

Meanwhile, US deputy secretary of State Christopher Landau and India’s foreign secretary Vikram Misri discussed trade barriers, defence collaboration, and regional security in a phone call on Friday, as confirmed by US State department spokesperson Tammy Bruce.