US President Donald Trump on Monday launched another sharp attack on India’s trade policies. He called the India-US trade balance a “one-sided disaster” and claimed that New Delhi had offered to cut tariffs on American goods to “nothing.” However, he dismissed the move as too late, saying, “it’s getting late for that now.”

Trump also criticised India’s oil trade with Russia, linking it to his administration’s decision to impose steep tariffs on Indian imports. Last month, Washington introduced a 50% tariff on several Indian goods, a move that worsened tensions between the two countries.

India Silent on Trump’s Claims

Trump’s remarks appeared to refer to stalled trade talks between Washington and New Delhi. His claim about India’s tariff concession did not receive any immediate response from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government.

Just a week earlier, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had expressed concern over the slow progress in trade negotiations, which began in April. He also listed India’s continued oil purchases from Russia as a reason for the tariff hike.

Indian negotiators, on the other hand, have questioned Washington’s stance. They have resisted demands that could hurt local farmers by allowing unrestricted imports of US agricultural goods.

Harsh Rhetoric from Washington

Alongside Trump, some US officials have used sharp language to target India. Trump’s top aide, Peter Navarro, even accused “Brahmin oil refiners” of profiteering by reselling Russian oil.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Modi has been strengthening ties with Asian partners. His recent visits to Japan and China, along with repeated emphasis on India’s long relationship with Russia, suggest a potential shift in trade alignments.

Trade Gap Figures and Russia Factor

After Modi’s return from China, Trump again raised the issue of the trade imbalance. Posting on Truth Social, he wrote, “What few people understand is that we do very little business with India, but they do a tremendous amount of business with us… The reason is that India has charged us, until now, such high tariffs… It has been a totally one sided disaster!”

Data from the US Trade Representative shows the imbalance clearly. In 2024, India exported goods worth $87.3 billion to the US, while importing only $41.5 billion. This left a trade surplus of $45.8 billion in India’s favour. In the first half of 2025 alone, India’s exports to the US stood at $56.3 billion, while imports were only $22.1 billion.

Trump also complained that India buys “most of its oil and military products from Russia, very little from the US.” He linked these purchases to the extra 25% tariff on Indian products, which brought the overall rate to 50%.

“They (India) have now offered to cut their tariffs to nothing, but it’s getting late. They should have done so years ago,” Trump added.

Why Trump Is So Angry

Trump’s anger seems to stem from the wide trade gap and India’s high tariffs on American products. Reports also suggest he is upset that India has rejected his claim of stopping its military action, Operation Sindoor, against Pakistan earlier this year.

The tariff hikes were introduced in two phases: first 25%, and then another 25% three weeks later.

Impact on India’s Economy

The 50% tariff especially hurts labour-intensive sectors such as textiles, gems and jewellery, leather goods, footwear, and shrimp. However, sectors like pharmaceuticals and electronics remain largely unaffected.

Experts warn that Indian exports to the US could drop sharply — from $87 billion in 2024 to about $50 billion by 2026. This fall may cut India’s GDP by nearly 1% and cause significant job losses.