Former US President Donald Trump has officially confirmed his plan to impose "reciprocal tariffs" in a press conference scheduled for 11:30 PM (IST) today. His announcement comes just hours before his anticipated meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, set for 2:30 AM (IST) on February 14. Trump, known for his strong stance on trade policies, had earlier hinted at this major move in a cryptic social media post, which sparked widespread speculation about his intentions.
On his social media platform, Trump wrote, "NEWS CONFERENCE ON RECIPROCAL TARIFFS TODAY, 1:00 P.M., THE OVAL OFFICE. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!" This statement reinforced the expectation that he would introduce new measures aimed at addressing what he perceives as unfair trade practices. His decision to impose reciprocal tariffs means the US will match the import duties levied by other countries on American goods, a policy that could have significant implications for global trade. Trump has previously criticized India’s high tariffs on American imports, and this move is expected to put further pressure on US trading partners, including India.
Shortly before his press conference, Trump posted another message on social media: "THREE GREAT WEEKS, PERHAPS THE BEST EVER, BUT TODAY IS THE BIG ONE: RECIPROCAL TARIFFS!!! MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!" This further cemented expectations that his administration is moving forward with a trade strategy aimed at countering what he has long viewed as an imbalance in trade policies.
Trump has frequently emphasized the idea of fairness in trade, stating, "It's time to be reciprocal. You’ll be hearing that word a lot. Reciprocal. If they charge us, we charge them." He has previously implemented tariffs on various countries, including a 25% tariff on Mexican and Canadian imports and an additional 10% on Chinese goods. However, those tariffs were temporarily halted until March 1, as negotiations on issues such as illegal immigration and drug trafficking continued with Mexico and Canada.
The timing of this announcement is particularly significant, as it comes just before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s two-day visit to the United States. Trump’s decision to unveil this policy ahead of his meeting with Modi suggests that trade discussions will be a central part of their talks. The Trump administration has repeatedly voiced concerns about India’s tariff policies, arguing that they create barriers for American companies and hinder fair competition.
Prime Minister Modi arrived in Washington, D.C., early on Thursday (IST) after concluding a two-day visit to France, where he co-chaired the Artificial Intelligence Action Summit alongside French President Emmanuel Macron. His visit to the US is a crucial moment in diplomatic relations, as he is now the fourth foreign leader to meet Trump since his inauguration on January 20.
During his visit, Modi will hold high-level discussions with Trump, focusing on trade, defense, and strategic cooperation. A joint press conference between the two leaders is scheduled for 2:30 AM (IST) on Friday. Ahead of his meeting with Trump, Modi also met with Tulsi Gabbard, the US Director of National Intelligence, to discuss intelligence-sharing and counter-terrorism strategies.
Modi’s schedule includes a meeting with Tesla CEO Elon Musk at 10 PM (IST) and a discussion with National Security Advisor Michael Waltz at 9 PM. These meetings reflect the growing strategic and economic engagement between India and the US. As Modi prepares for his high-profile meeting with Trump, the announcement of reciprocal tariffs has added another dimension to the already complex trade negotiations between the two nations.
