Donald Trump slams India and Brazil over ‘very high tariffs’ after renegotiating Nafta
Following successful negotiations with Mexico and Canada to rewrite Nafta, Trump complains that India and Brazil levy steep tariffs on US goods
Fresh from clinching an updated North American commerce pact, US President Donald Trump on Monday criticised Indian and Brazilian trade tactics, describing the latter as being “maybe the toughest in the world” in terms of protectionism.
Addressing reporters at a White House event to celebrate the agreement of an updated trilateral trade deal between the United States, Mexico and Canada, Trump added India and Brazil to a growing list of countries that, he argues, treat the world’s top economy unfairly in terms of commerce.
“India charges us tremendous tariffs. When we send Harley-Davidson motorcycles, other things to India, they charge very, very high tariffs,” Trump said, adding that he had brought up the issue with Indian Prime Minster Narendra Modi, who he said was “going to reduce them very substantially”.
Modi’s office could not immediately be reached for a request for comment. India’s government has become more protectionist in recent months, raising import tariffs on a growing number of goods as it promotes its “Make in India” programme.
After criticising India, Trump turned to Brazil, the second-largest economy in the Americas behind the United States.
“Brazil’s another one. That’s a beauty. They charge us whatever they want,” he said. “If you ask some of the companies, they say Brazil is among the toughest in the world – maybe the toughest in the world.”