Did Trump retreat on Japan tariffs? Will India face a U-turn?

President Donald Trump confirms 25% tariff on India from August 1. This decision follows the 26% reciprocal tariff announced in April. Trump accuses India of imposing high tariffs on American goods. Japan was also warned with a 25% tariff, but the deal settled at 15%.
Deal finalized with Japan at 15%, announcement made to impose 25% tariff on India. (File Photo)

Source: aajtak

President Donald Trump has stood by his August 1 deadline for tariffs on India, announced earlier in April. His recent social media post mentions that India will face a 25% tariff. However, no official statement from the White House has been released. This mirrors his approach with Japan – initially announcing a 25% tariff only to finalize at 15%.

Interestingly, President Trump had announced tariffs on countries including India and Japan in April. Though he later extended it by 90 days. Trump imposed a 26% tariff on India and announced a 24% tariff for Japan. While trade deal discussions with India are ongoing, India has assured necessary actions following Trump's declaration.

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On April 2, President Trump announced a 26% 'discounted reciprocal tariff' on goods from India. This move targeted countries accused by the U.S. of trade imbalances. Trump accused India of imposing excessive tariffs and non-economic trade barriers on American products.

On April 9, 2025, his administration put a 90-day hold on specific nation tariffs (exceeding the baseline 10%), offering temporary relief to many countries, including India.

As the August 1 tariff deadline approaches, President Trump today voiced no finalized trade agreement with India, suggesting a possible 20-25% tariff. However, he has clarified in his social media post that India will face a 25% tariff.

Trump's tariff saga with Japan and their final deal

On July 23, 2025, amidst prolonged trade tensions and tariff disputes, a significant trade agreement was reached between the U.S. and Japan. This followed Trump’s April 2 announcement under the 'Liberation Day Tariffs' signaling a 24% reciprocal tariff on Japan, after the universal 10% tariff imposed on April 5.

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Trump recently dispatched a letter to Japan warning a 25% tariff. Yet, post-agreement, tariffs on Japanese goods in the U.S., notably automobiles, were reduced to 15% from the earlier hefty 27.5%.

Japan committed to a $550 billion investment in the U.S. market, pledging to open its markets for American goods like cars, trucks, rice, and other agricultural products.

While the deal is viewed positively in certain quarters, experts find it imposes higher than previous tariffs, posing fresh challenges to Japan’s economy.

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