Minister of state for finance Pankaj Chaudhary on April 3 said the US President Donald Trump might be following a policy of America first, but for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, too, it is India first.
The minister further said that the government is “assessing” the impact of the reciprocal tariffs imposed by US.
The US announced 26 percent reciprocal tariffs or import duties on Indian goods which will enter American markets. Industry players and experts have stated that the duties will pose challenges for Indian goods but India’s position is comparatively more favourable than that of its competitor nations.
“India, very, very tough. Very, very tough. The Prime Minister just left. He’s a great friend of mine, but I said, ‘You’re a friend of mine, but you’re not treating us right.’ They charge us 52 per cent,” Trump said during an event to mark “Liberation Day”, where he announced the imposition of tariffs on the world.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had visited Washington DC in February, less than a month after Trump took the oath of office and began his second term in the White House as President.