On the eve of the April 2 deadline for reciprocal tariffs, the White House said that India charges 100 per cent tariffs on American agricultural products, and high levies charged by other countries are making it “virtually impossible” for US products to be exported to those nations.
This comes after US President Donald Trump repeatedly criticised India’s tariff policies for American goods, planning to roll out reciprocal tariffs for India and other countries on April 2. He said that Thursday will be “Liberation Day” for the US in terms of imports and exports.
“Unfortunately, these countries have been ripping off our nation for far too long, and they have made, I think, their disdain for the American workers quite clear,” stated White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Monday.
“If you examine the unfair trade practices, we have a 700% tariff from Japan on American rice and a 50% duty from the European Union on American cheese. India has a 100% tax on American agricultural goods, while Canada has a nearly 300% levy on American cheese and butter.
“This has caused many Americans to lose their jobs and businesses over the past few decades and makes it nearly impossible for US products to be imported into these markets,” she said.
Leavitt claimed that the moment has come for President Trump to “make a historic change” and for “reciprocal tariffs,” while displaying a chart that lists duties imposed by Japan, India, and other nations.
Donald Trump declared in March that the current tariffs on countries are “temporary,” but that the US would implement the “predominant” tariffs on April 2. He called this action a “big game-changer for our country.”
Leavitt did not, however, specify the precise duties on various products or the nations that would be affected. With the assistance of a “brilliant team of trade advisors,” which includes US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, White House aide Peter Navarro, National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett, and Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy and Homeland Security Advisor, she said President Trump will make the same announcement on Wednesday.
