Whatever India charges US, we will charge the same: Trump on Indian tariffs-OxBig News Network

US President Donald Trump announced after talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi that India will buy more oil, gas and military hardware, including F-35 fighter jets, from America to bring down trade deficit but asserted that Washington will not spare New Delhi from reciprocal tariffs.

At his Oval Office in the White House on Thursday (Friday India time), Trump warmly welcomed Modi with a long handshake and a bear hug while describing the Prime Minister as a “great friend” for a long time and a “terrific” man.

The US President, at a joint media briefing with Prime Minister Modi following the talks, said both sides are looking at striking a major trade deal soon while calling import duties imposed by India on certain US products as “very unfair” and “strong”.

“Whatever India charges, we will charge them,” Trump said, adding “We are being reciprocal with India.”

The Modi-Trump meeting took place hours after the US President announced a new reciprocal tariff policy for all the trading partners of the US in the latest in a series of such actions initiated by his administration.

In his remarks, Trump said he and PM Modi have reached an agreement that could potentially make the US the “number one supplier” of oil and gas to India, suggesting it to be part of measures to bring down the US trade deficit with India that stands at around USD 45 billion.

The US president also said that both sides have decided to expand the overall defence partnership.

“Starting this year, we will be increasing military sales to India by many billions of dollars,” Trump said.

“We are also paving the way to ultimately provide India with F-35 stealth fighters,” he added. The F-35 jets are known as the most lethal, survivable and connected fighter aircraft in the world.

Trump also announced that India and the US will be working together like “never before” to confront the threat of radical Islamic terror across the world.

“I am pleased to announce that my administration has approved the extradition of one of the very evil people of the world,” he said, referring to the extradition of 26/11 Mumbai attack plotter Tahawwur Rana to India.