Trump: India has offered US a trade deal with no tariffs
US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that India had offered the US a trade deal that proposed 'no tariffs.'
New Delhi is seeking to clinch a trade deal with the US within the 90-day pause announced by Trump on April 9 on tariff hikes for major trading partners, which had included a 26 percent tariff on India.
'It is very hard to sell in India, and they are offering us a deal where basically they are willing to literally charge us no tariffs,' Trump said in a meeting with executives in Doha.
The United States is India's largest trading partner, with bilateral trade totaling some $129 billion in 2024. The trade balance is currently in favor of India, which runs a $45.7 billion surplus with the US.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Leaders
an hour ago
- Leaders
Protests Sweep US Over Immigration Policies
Protests against hardline immigration tactics erupted across the United States, following days of demonstrations in Los Angeles. California has prepared for a legal showdown over President Donald Trump's military deployment on Thursday. In Los Angeles, over 1,000 people gathered peacefully for the sixth consecutive day of protests. The crowd marched through the streets, expressing their discontent with the current administration's policies. Curfews and Vandalism in Los Angeles City leaders imposed a second night of curfew to address after-dark vandalism and looting. These incidents scarred several city blocks in the sprawling 500-square-mile metropolis. 'I would say for the most part everything is hunky dory right here at Ground Zero,' said protester Lynn Sturgis, 66, a retired school teacher. 'Our city is not at all on fire; it's not burning down, as our terrible leader is trying to tell you.' The mostly peaceful protests ignited due to a sudden escalation in efforts to apprehend undocumented migrants. Although pockets of violence occurred, including burning self-driving taxis and hurling stones at police, the Los Angeles Police Department managed the situation effectively. In Spokane, Washington, police declared a night curfew after arresting over 30 protesters. Police Chief Kevin Hall reported that officers fired pepper balls to disperse crowds during the unrest. Trump's Military Deployment and Political Maneuvering Trump won the election last year partly by promising to combat what he claims is an 'invasion' of undocumented migrants. He now seizes the opportunity to gain political capital by ordering the California National Guard's deployment. This marks the first time a U.S. president has taken such action in decades, despite Governor Gavin Newsom's objections. 'We're going to have a safe country,' Trump told reporters while attending a performance of 'Les Miserables' in Washington. 'We're not going to have what would have happened in Los Angeles. Remember, if I wasn't there… Los Angeles would have been burning to the ground.' Around 1,000 of the 4,700 troops deployed actively guard facilities and work alongside ICE agents. Scott Sherman, Deputy Commanding General Army North, leads these operations. The remaining troops, including 700 active-duty Marines, undergo training to handle civil disturbances. Financial Implications and Political Tensions The Pentagon announced that the deployment will cost taxpayers $134 million. Governor Newsom, a Democrat eyeing a potential 2028 presidential run, accused Trump of escalating the confrontation for political gain. He warned that this unprecedented militarization could extend beyond California's borders, claiming 'democracy is under assault right before our eyes.' On Thursday, California lawyers sought a court order to block troops from accompanying immigration officers during arrests. Trump administration lawyers dismissed this application as a 'crass political stunt.' Unyielding Protesters Across the Country Despite Trump's threats to deploy the National Guard to other Democratic-run states, protesters remained undeterred, with demonstrations occurred in St. Louis, Raleigh, Manhattan, Indianapolis, and Denver. In San Antonio, hundreds marched and chanted near city hall, where Republican Texas Governor Greg Abbott deployed the state's National Guard. A nationwide 'No Kings' movement is planned for Saturday, coinciding with Trump's unusual military parade in the U.S. capital. The Trump administration portrays the protests as a violent threat to the nation, justifying military support for immigration agents and police. However, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass argued that Washington manufactured the crisis. 'A week ago, everything was peaceful in the city of Los Angeles,' she told reporters. 'Things began to be difficult on Friday when raids took place… that is the cause of the problems. This was provoked by the White House.' Short link : Post Views: 1
Al Arabiya
3 hours ago
- Al Arabiya
Trump met with cheers, boos at Kennedy Center for ‘Les Miserables' performance
A loud mix of boos and cheers greeted US President Donald Trump on Wednesday when he attended his first production at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the institution he subjected to a conservative takeover earlier this year. The mixed reception from theatergoers for Trump and his wife Melania as they arrived in the presidential box for a performance of 'Les Miserables' reflected the heightened emotions unleashed by his overhaul of the cultural center and use of executive power to shake up US society. His appearance at a musical about citizens rising up against their government came just days after he sent US Marines and the National Guard to quell protests against his administration's immigration raids in Los Angeles. Power and protest - key themes in the show - manifested within the theater itself. While some kept their backs turned to Trump, who raised his fist as he greeted the crowd, others chanted 'USA! USA!' to drown out boos as he and his wife were seated. Several drag queens in full regalia sat in the audience, likely in response to Trump's previous criticism of the venue for hosting drag shows. One person shouted 'Viva Los Angeles' as Trump stepped out of the presidential box for intermission. Trump did not attend events at the Kennedy Center during his first term but has taken a keen interest in it during his second. He pushed out its former chairman and took on the role himself, fired its longtime president and pledged to overhaul an institution that he criticized as too liberal. The center, a leading US arts facility, had long enjoyed bipartisan support. Revenue down Ticket and subscription sales have fallen since and some shows, including the hit 'Hamilton,' have canceled their engagements. Trump's appearance was meant to boost fundraising for the center, and he said donors raised more than $10 million. 'We're going to make it incredible. We have all the funding. We raised a lot tonight, and we'll put in a lot of money to bring it back to the highest level,' a tuxedo-clad Trump told reporters after other administration officials arrived on the red carpet, meant to evoke a Hollywood movie premiere. Overall year-on-year subscription revenue at the Kennedy Center was down 36% to $2.8 million as of early June for next season, which begins in the autumn, according to a person briefed on the data. Theater subscriptions, normally a major revenue driver for the center, were down 82%. A Kennedy Center official said the comparisons reflected in those subscription sales were not accurate because the center had launched its subscription renewal campaign later in 2025 than 2024. 'Our renewal campaign is just kicking off,' Kim Cooper, senior vice president of marketing, said in a statement. Cooper noted the center had launched a new subscription option that allowed customers to 'mix and match' genres and said more announcements of shows were coming. The Kennedy Center depends on revenue from tickets and subscriptions as well as donations to operate. Ticket sales for 'Les Miserables' have been robust, according to another Kennedy Center official. Donors were asked to pay $100,000 to $2 million for the event, for which they could attend a reception before the performance, receive a photo with the president and be seated in good locations in the roughly 2,300-seat theater. Conservative programing 'We've raised a little more than $10 million for tonight, which is pretty remarkable, and it's an organization that needs the money right now,' said Ric Grenell, a close Trump ally and former ambassador to Germany, who is now president of the Kennedy Center. Under his leadership, the center has sought to add conservative-leaning programming, including a show that Grenell has described as a celebration of the birth of Christ. Trump said he particularly enjoyed 'Les Miserables,' a musical that explores themes of injustice, poverty, law and order and acts of grace. 'I've seen it many times, it's one of my favorites,' he said. Secret Service agents inspected the prop guns used in the production and remained backstage for the show. Vice President JD Vance, Attorney General Pam Bondi and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. also attended. Vance was met with boos when he attended a Kennedy Center show with his wife earlier this year. He said on Wednesday that such reactions came with the territory of holding national office. When initiating his takeover of the center, Trump zeroed in on drag shows to argue that it had lost its way. But multiple upcoming shows on the Kennedy Center's agenda include characters dressed in drag, such as 'Mrs. Doubtfire' and 'Chicago.' Other musicals in addition to 'Hamilton' have pulled out, according to a former Kennedy Center official.
Asharq Al-Awsat
3 hours ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Gold Climbs on Rising Middle East Tensions, Weaker Dollar
Gold prices rose on Thursday, bolstered by rising tensions in the Middle East and a weaker dollar, while softer-than-expected US inflation data boosted expectations of Federal Reserve rate cuts. Spot gold was up 0.6% at $3,373.09 an ounce, as of 0552 GMT. US gold futures gained 1.5% to $3,393.80. The US dollar index fell to a near two-month low, making greenback-priced bullion more attractive to overseas buyers. The weakness in the dollar index serves as a strong catalyst, said Kelvin Wong, a senior market analyst, Asia Pacific at OANDA, adding that a "bullish breakout" of the $3,346 resistance triggered technical buying. Rising geopolitical risks aided safe-haven assets, with President Donald Trump announcing on Wednesday that US personnel were being moved out of the Middle East due to heightened security risks amid rising tensions with Iran. Meanwhile, US consumer prices increased less than expected in May, driven by cheaper gasoline, though inflation could accelerate due to import tariffs. The data prompted renewed calls from Trump for significant rate cuts. "We could potentially see the Fed moving more quickly than anticipated, given the CPI data, which is not particularly alarming at this juncture," Wong said. Traders expect 50 basis points of rate cuts by year-end. Investors awaited US producer price index data due at 1230 GMT for further clues on rate cut path. Meanwhile, Trump said on Wednesday that Washington and Beijing had agreed on a framework to restore a fragile truce in the US-China trade war, potentially avoiding higher tariffs. Trump added he could extend a July 8 deadline for trade talks with other nations before higher US tariffs take effect. Elsewhere, spot silver was up 0.4% at $36.38 per ounce, platinum rose 1.2% to $1,271.15, still hovering near a more than 4-year high, while palladium was down 1.1% at $1,068.19.
