Washington/New Delhi, April 3 (H.S.): The United States has officially imposed a tariff of 27 percent on India, correcting an earlier statement by President Trump who initially announced it as 26 percent. The discrepancy has been confirmed in an official order from the White House.

The Trump administration justifies this measure by citing India's high import duties on American goods, asserting that it aims to reduce the trade deficit and bolster U.S. manufacturing. Though experts warn that the tariff might negatively affect U.S. exports to specific sectors in India, they note that India's tariff rate is still lower than those faced by other countries.

Trump characterized India's existing tariffs as very, very harsh, pointing out that India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, despite their friendly relationship, is not treating the U.S. fairly, given India's current 52 percent tariff rate on U.S. goods. The decision to impose a 27 percent tariff was seen as difficult, especially since the announced 26 percent rate led to confusion, which the official order later clarified.

In addition to India, tariff rate changes were also recorded for countries like South Korea, Thailand, Myanmar, and others. For instance, South Korea's tariff increased from 25 percent to 26 percent, while Thailand’s rose from 36 percent to 37 percent.

India's Ministry of Commerce and Industry responded to these tariffs, indicating a forthcoming executive order that will establish additional tariffs ranging from 10 to 50 percent on various imports starting from April 2025.

Notably, President Trump has also imposed high tariffs on several allied nations, such as Japan and South Korea, while excluding countries like Russia and North Korea from these stringent measures.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar