US Criticizes India Over High Taxes, Citing 150% Tariff on American Alcohol

US Criticizes India Over High Taxes: The US again raised the issue of tariffs that India imposes on its goods, citing high tariffs on American alcohol and agricultural products.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt made references to high tariffs by India during a press briefing on Tuesday when she was responding to a question on Canada.

Canada has been ripping off the United States of America and hard-working Americans for decades. If you look at the rates of tariffs across the board that Canadians have been imposing on the American people and our workers here, it is egregious. In fact, I have a handy dandy chart here that shows not just Canada, but the rate of tariffs across the board. If you look at CanadaAmerican cheese and butter, nearly 300 per cent tariff," she said.

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India’s Tariffs Under the Spotlight

India’s trade policies also came under scrutiny, with Leavitt pointing out the high duties placed on American goods. "You look at India, 150 per cent tariff on American alcohol. Do you think that's helping Kentucky bourbon be exported into India? I don't think so. 100 per cent tariff on agricultural products from India," she remarked.

The White House maintains that these tariffs make it extremely difficult for American businesses to operate in the Indian market. Trump himself recently addressed the issue, claiming that India has agreed to lower its tariffs. "India charges us massive tariffs. Massive. You can't even sell anything in India... They have agreed, by the way; they want to cut their tariffs way down now because somebody is finally exposing them for what they have done," Trump stated during a televised address.

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Japan was also singled out for its heavy trade barriers, with tariffs as high as 700% on certain goods. "Look at Japan, tariffing rice, 700 per cent. President Trump believes in reciprocity and it is about...time that we have a president who looks out for the interests of American businesses and workers. And all he's asking for at the end of the day are fair and balanced trade practices," Leavitt said.

President Trump has been voicing his criticism of India's high tariffs over the past few days.

On Friday, he mentioned that India has agreed to significantly reduce its tariffs, reiterating his claim that the country imposes substantial tariffs on the United States.

Commerce secretary Sunil Barthwal on Monday told a Parliamentary panel that negotiations between the two countries are still on and no agreement on trade tariffs has been reached so far.

Barthwal briefed the Parliamentary Committee on external affairs, on US President Donald Trump's recent claims that India has agreed to reduce its tariffs “way down”.

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