We are close to making deal with India: Trump after tariff letters to 14 countries

US President Donald Trump announced that the United States is nearing a trade agreement with India, as part of a broader strategy to reshape global trade relationships and assert US leverage through tariffs.

“We are close to making a deal with India,” Trump told reporters during a private dinner with Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu. “We’ve made a deal with the United Kingdom. We’ve made a deal with China.”

Trump suggested that while progress has been made with key partners, other nations unwilling to meet US terms will face new tariff notifications.

“Others we met with, and we don’t think we’re going to be able to make a deal, so we just send them a letter,” Trump said. “We’re sending out letters to various countries telling them how much tariffs they have to pay.”

While Trump did not provide details about the structure or scope of the potential deal with India, he hinted at flexibility for countries with legitimate concerns.

“Some will maybe adjust a little bit depending if they have a cause,” he added. “We’re not going to be unfair about it.”

The announcement comes as the US imposed tariffs on imports from fourteen countries, emphasising that the rates are still “far less” than what is needed to address the US trade deficit with these nations. On Monday, Trump expanded tariffs on imports from Japan, South Korea, Myanmar, Laos, South Africa, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Tunisia, Indonesia, Bosnia, Bangladesh, Serbia, Cambodia, and Thailand.

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