India Makes First Move Against Trump Tariffs – Suggests Counter Duties

India-West News Desk

NEW DELHI – India has officially responded to U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum by proposing new duties on selected American goods. This marks India’s first direct retaliation against. President Donald Trump’s trade measures, even as the two nations continue to negotiate a broader trade deal, both Bloomberg and Reuters reported.

According to a document submitted to the World Trade Organization on May 12, India plans to suspend trade concessions and raise tariffs on certain U.S. products. The document states, “The proposed suspension of concessions or other obligations takes the form of an increase in tariffs on selected products originating in the United States.” However, it did not specify which products would be affected.

This move comes in response to the U.S. imposing 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum imports starting in March. These tariffs were originally introduced in 2018 during President Trump’s first term and have now been extended without a fixed end date.

India, the world’s second-largest producer of crude steel, exports about $7.6 billion worth of steel and aluminum to the U.S, pointed out Reuters. The WTO notification noted that these U.S. tariffs would result in an estimated $1.9 billion in additional costs for Indian exporters.

To counter this impact, India has proposed imposing equivalent tariffs on American imports. This isn’t the first time India has responded to such measures—back in 2019, it had also placed tariffs on select U.S. goods after a similar move by the Trump administration.

Meanwhile, both countries are working on finalizing a trade agreement. Reports suggest India may offer to reduce its overall tariff gap with the U.S. by two-thirds in hopes of easing tensions and promoting fair trade.

For now, India’s latest proposal signals a clear message: it won’t fold in the face of continued U.S. trade pressure.