Donald Trump personal pique behind singling out India on tariffs

The underlying cause behind the steep US tariffs on India seems to be New Delhi’s refusal to allow President Donald Trump to mediate during the hostilities with Pakistan, effectively denying him an opportunity to strengthen his Nobel Peace Prize pitch, according to a report by a US financial services company.

The report by Jefferies said Trump’s “personal pique” was behind the US imposing an unprecedented 50% tariff on India, the highest among American trading partners, and thereby sending longstanding strategic ties into a free-fall.

“Tariffs are primarily the consequence of the American president’s personal pique that he was not allowed to play a role in seeking to end the long-running acrimony between India and Pakistan,” the report said.

India has repeatedly maintained that it is not open to any sort of third-party mediation, particularly in its long-running dispute with Pakistan over Kashmir.

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