Washington: US President Donald Trump on Monday claimed that India has now “offered” to reduce its tariffs to zero, but added that the move has come “too late”. He also criticised India for importing most of its oil and defence equipment from Russia while buying very little from the US.

Posting on Truth Social, Trump said, “What most people don’t realise is that while we do very little business with India, they do enormous business with us. India sells massive amounts of goods to the US, its biggest client, but we sell them very little. For decades, it has been a completely one-sided relationship.”

Trump alleged that India had been imposing the highest tariffs of any country, which kept American businesses from entering the Indian market. “It has been a one-sided disaster,” he said, adding that India’s dependence on Russian oil and military products further hurt trade ties with the US. “They have now offered to reduce tariffs to nothing, but it’s getting late. This should have been done years ago. Just some simple facts for people to think about,” he wrote.

His remarks came as Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Tianjin.

The Trump administration has already levied a 25% reciprocal tariff on India, along with an additional 25% duty on Indian imports linked to Russian oil purchases, taking the total to 50%—among the steepest tariffs globally, reported PTI.

India has called the US measures “unjustified and unreasonable,” insisting it will take all necessary steps to protect its economic security and national interests. Prime Minister Modi has reiterated that he would not compromise on the concerns of farmers, small industries, and cattle-rearers, stating: “Pressure on us may increase, but we will endure it.”