President Donald Trump, right, shakes the hand of India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the conclusion of a news conference in the East Room of the White House, Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025, in Washington.Photo: AP/Ben Curtis President Donald Trump, right, shakes the hand of India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the conclusion of a news conference in the East Room of the White House, Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025, in Washington.Photo: AP/Ben Curtis

In a statement made on Saturdayfc188, President Donald Trump reiterated his administration’s plan to impose reciprocal tariffs on countries like India and China. 

This reflects his longstanding stance on trade fairness and comes ahead of his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Speaking at the swearing-in ceremony of new Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Trump emphasised the need for fairness in trade policies. “We’ll soon impose reciprocal tariffs because that means, they charge us, we charge them. It’s very simple. Whatever a company or a country, such as India or China or any of them, whatever they charge, we want to be fair... so reciprocal,” Trump said, according to a report by PTI.

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The president also noted that this was a step the US had not previously taken, but was now preparing to implement. “We haven’t done that,ph444 games we have never done that. We are getting ready to do it,” the 78-year-old Republican leader added.

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This move builds upon remarks Trump made earlier in the week during a joint interview with Tesla CEO Elon Musk, in which he explained to Fox News that India would not be exempt from the US’s plan for reciprocal tariffs. “I told Prime Minister Modi yesterday – he was here – I said, ‘Here’s what we’re going to do: reciprocal. Whatever you charge, I’m charging,’” Trump shared.

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The president also took a lighthearted jab during his speech, humorously noting that "tariff" had once been his favourite word but had since been relegated to fourth place behind “family,” “love,” and “God.” “I think, let’s put God first. You know why? Because we don’t want to take any chances,” Trump quipped.

The announcement comes just hours before Trump’s bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Modi. In the Oval Office, Trump made a clear declaration regarding the reciprocal tariff policy. “I’ve decided for purposes of fairness that I will charge a reciprocal tariff,” he said while signing the proclamation. “It’s fair to all. No other country can complain.”

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This latest move by the Trump administration continues its focus on trade imbalances and echoes previous decisions made during his first term. In May 2019fc188, Trump had famously referred to India as a “tariff king” and subsequently terminated India’s preferential market access under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP), citing that India had not provided the United States with “equitable and reasonable access” to its markets.