Washington: Former US President Donald Trump has once again raised the issue of India’s taxes on American products, in particular the iconic Harley-Davidson motorcycles. In an interview with Fox Business News, Trump said that if he is elected president in 2024, he would impose a reciprocal tax on Indian products that are imported into the United States.
Trump has been critical of India’s high import tariffs on American products for many years. In 2019, he terminated India’s preferential market access under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program, which had allowed certain Indian products to be imported into the United States duty-free.
The Harley-Davidson issue is particularly sensitive for Trump. In 2017, the company announced that it would shift production of some of its motorcycles from the United States to India due to high tariffs. Trump was furious, and he accused India of “unfair trade practices.”
In his recent interview, Trump said that he would “make it very difficult” for Indian products to be imported into the United States if he is elected president. He said that he would impose a “matching tax” on Indian products that are equivalent to the tariffs that India imposes on American products.
Trump’s comments are likely to be met with resistance from the Indian government. India has defended its high import tariffs, saying that they are necessary to protect its domestic industries. The Indian government has also said that it is willing to negotiate a trade deal with the United States, but that it will not agree to any deal that would force it to lower its tariffs.
The Harley-Davidson issue is just one of the many trade disputes between the United States and India. The two countries have also been at odds over issues such as intellectual property protection and market access for agricultural products.
It remains to be seen whether Trump will be able to impose a reciprocal tax on Indian products if he is elected president. However, his comments are a sign that he is willing to take a tough stance on trade with India.