During his address in Qatar on Thursday, former U.S. President Donald Trump claimed that India has offered the United States a trade deal with “no tariffs”, although he did not disclose further details about the proposal or its context.
“Hundreds of companies are pouring into America and building factories — without needing financing,” Trump added, highlighting the strength of U.S. domestic manufacturing under his influence.
While speaking on foreign relations, Trump emphasized the United States’ growing strategic ties with the Middle East. He said the U.S. now shares a “very strong” relationship with Saudi Arabia and Qatar, describing it as one that “no one will be able to break.”
“We will protect you,” Trump told regional leaders, adding that “you have a great ally in the Trump administration.”
While officials in New Delhi have not yet confirmed any such proposal, the claim comes at a time when India is actively seeking to position itself as a global manufacturing hub and deepen economic ties with the U.S.
Interestingly, Trump’s comments come against the backdrop of past trade tensions between the two nations. As recently as 2024, India had notified the World Trade Organization (WTO) that it was considering retaliatory tariffs on select U.S. goods, in response to the Trump administration’s renewed levies on steel and aluminium imports.
A document dated May 12 and submitted to the WTO stated:
“The proposed suspension of concessions or other obligations takes the form of an increase in tariffs on selected products originating in the United States.”
While the products targeted were not specified, the document emphasized that the U.S. tariffs—25% on steel and aluminium—could impact $7.6 billion worth of Indian exports to the U.S. India, being the second-largest producer of crude steel, has a vested interest in protecting its metal exports.
