At a recent campaign event in Michigan, former U.S. President Donald Trump launched a critique against India’s trade policies, denouncing the country as a “very big abuser” of import tariffs. Trump expressed frustration with what he views as unfair and detrimental trade practices by India, despite his admiration for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “India is a very big abuser. Modi, he’s fantastic. A lot of these leaders are fantastic,” Trump said, highlighting his respect for Modi while criticizing India’s high tariffs.
Trump’s comments come in advance of Modi’s visit to the United States from September 21 to 23. Modi is scheduled to participate in the Quad Leaders’ Summit hosted by President Joe Biden, alongside Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio. Modi’s visit will also feature a significant community event in Long Island on September 22 and a key address at the United Nations General Assembly’s ‘Summit of the Future’ in New York on September 23. This visit marks Modi’s first trip to the U.S. since beginning his third term as Prime Minister earlier this year.
The relationship between Trump and Modi has been characterized by mutual admiration. In 2019, Modi hosted the “Howdy, Modi!” event in Houston, which was attended by Trump and showcased their strong bilateral ties. Trump’s visit to India in 2020 was reciprocated with the “Namaste Trump” event in Ahmedabad, reflecting their personal rapport despite ongoing trade disagreements.
In his Michigan speech, Trump outlined his vision for a “reciprocal trade” policy should he win the upcoming presidential election. He proposed that the U.S. would impose tariffs equivalent to those enacted by other countries, aiming to either eliminate tariffs or generate significant revenue. Trump argued that this approach would restore fair trade practices and bolster the U.S. economy.
This Michigan event also marked Trump’s first public appearance following a reported assassination attempt in Florida. Despite the recent security scare, Trump remains focused on his campaign and key issues such as trade and international relations.
