Trump on India: 'Just About the Highest Tariffed Country' — 'Whatever They Charge Us, We're Charging Them' (February 13, 2025)

Hours before India’s prime minister arrived at the White House, President Donald Trump signed an order on reciprocal tariffs and was asked about India. “Well, yes, India traditionally is the highest—just about the highest tariffed country. They charge more tariffs than any other country,” Trump said in the Oval Office on Feb. 13, 2025, according to the transcript published by the American Presidency Project [1].

“And I mean, we’ll be talking about that. But, again, whatever they charge us, we’re charging them. So it works out very well. It’s very—it’s a beautiful, simple system,” he said [1].

The video above shows Trump’s remarks on Feb. 13, 2025. Quotes are from the American Presidency Project and the Federal Register [1][2][3][4][5].

”Harley Davidson Couldn’t Sell Their Motorbikes”

Trump gave an example. “But traditionally, India is right at the top of the pack, pretty much. There are a couple of smaller countries that are actually more. But India is a very, very—they—they charge tremendous tariffs,” he said [1].

“I remember when Harley Davidson couldn’t sell their motorbikes into India because of the fact that India—the tax was so high, the tariff was so high,” Trump said [1].

Trump explained the rule. “And on trade, I have decided, for purposes of fairness, that I will charge a reciprocal tariff—meaning whatever countries charge the United States of America, we will charge them. No more, no less,” he said [1].

“So a VAT tax will be viewed as a tariff,” Trump said of European-style value-added taxes. “Our allies, many cases, are worse than our enemies in this, having to do with trade.” [1]

On barriers that are not taxes at all, Trump said: “They do tests on cars, like dropping a bowling ball on the hood of a car.” And on the national debt: “We owe $36 trillion, but that’ll come down rapidly.” [1]

White House Staff Secretary Will Scharf described the order. “This memorandum will reshape American trade policy, with the guiding principle being that our tariffs and our treatment of other countries should be reciprocal based on their treatment of us,” Scharf said [1].

”$521 Billion in Fraud”

Before signing, Trump read new numbers on government waste. “The Federal Government loses as much as $521 billion in fraud every single year. That’s what Elon is working so hard on with his group of almost 100 geniuses,” he said [1].

“And since 2003, there have been $2.7 trillion in improper payments, meaning payments that went to the wrong people or payments that shouldn’t have been made,” Trump said [1].

”A Very Hard Place to Do Business”

A reporter asked whether Elon Musk had met Modi that day as a CEO or for the government. “But India is a very hard place to do business in because of the tariffs. They—they have the highest tariffs, just about, in the world, and it’s a hard place to do business,” Trump answered [1].

“Well, he’s meeting with me in a little while, so I’m going to ask him that question. All right? I’ll ask him that question,” Trump said of Modi [1].

”A Great Friend of Mine”

That afternoon, Trump welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “He is a great friend of mine for a long time,” Trump said. “Number one is, they’re going to be purchasing a lot of our oil and gas. We have more oil and gas than any other country in the world, by far. And they need it, and we have it.” [2]

“On behalf of 1.4 billion people of India, let me convey my heartiest congratulations to you on your grand and historic victory,” Modi said [2].

Asked what a “Trump-Modi doctrine” would be, Trump said: “Well, I think more than anything else will be the unity. We have great unity. We have great friendship, he and I and our countries.” [2]

Asked how he would beat China if he was tough on India, he said: “We’re in very good shape to beat anybody we want, but we’re not looking to beat anybody.” [2]

“MAGA Plus MIGA”

At a news conference that evening, Modi borrowed Trump’s slogan. “If I were to say this, borrowing an expression from America, our vision for a developed India is to ‘Make India Great Again,’ or ‘MIGA.’ When America and India work together, that is when MAGA—when it’s MAGA plus MIGA, it becomes mega—a mega partnership for prosperity,” Modi said [5].

Modi closed his statement with an invitation. “On behalf of 1.4 billion Indians, I invite you to visit India,” he told Trump [5].

“Well, I don’t think India had a very good relationship with the Biden administration. Biden—they wouldn’t sell them oil and gas, which is rather hard to believe, because, you know, it’s a good thing to do,” Trump said [5].

“But now I come back, and I have—the whole world is on fire, so I have to put out the fires. But after I put out the fires, I’m going to meet with China, and I’m going to meet with Russia, and we’re going to see if we can de-escalate, if we can bring it down—military—especially as it pertains to nuclear,” he said [5].

”Mission 500”

The two leaders released a joint statement. “To this end, the leaders set a bold new goal for bilateral trade— ‘Mission 500’ —aiming to more than double total bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030,” it said [3].

“Recognizing a shared desire to bring to justice those who would harm our citizens, the U.S. announced that the extradition to India of Tahawwur Rana has been approved,” the statement said. India had sought Rana over the 26/11 Mumbai attacks [3].

By the Numbers

$521 billion: lost to fraud each year, per the GAO numbers Trump read [1].
$2.7 trillion: in improper payments since 2003, per Trump [1].
$500 billion: the 2030 trade goal in “Mission 500” [3].
25 percent: the extra tariff Trump later put on India [4].

What Happened Next

Trump raised tariffs on India. On Aug. 6, 2025, he signed Executive Order 14329, citing India’s purchases of Russian oil. “I find that the Government of India is currently directly or indirectly importing Russian Federation oil,” it says [4].

“Accordingly, and as consistent with applicable law, articles of India imported into the customs territory of the United States shall be subject to an additional ad valorem rate of duty of 25 percent,” the order says [4].

For Trump’s first Cabinet meeting two weeks later, see HYGO News’ page on Feb. 26, 2025. For Trump’s summit with Vladimir Putin in August, see the page on Aug. 15, 2025.